Two individuals face a myriad of gun and ammunition charges following a proactive patrol operation conducted by Fall River Police Department detectives on the night of November 24. As reported by the Fall River Police Department's social media post, their detectives, assigned to CAST, spotted a gray Nissan Murano speeding through Pleasant Street at around 9:45 p.m. The vehicle reportedly committed multiple traffic violations before police were able to conduct a stop.
The driver, identified as Jose Fernando Cortez, age 31, informed detectives at the scene that he had outstanding active warrants. Following his detainment, the investigation led to the discovery of a Taurus G3C 9mm handgun with ammunition inside the console of the vehicle. It is noteworthy that Cortez is not licensed to carry a firearm in Massachusetts. Soon to arrive on the scene was Margarita Mercado Matos, Cortez's girlfriend and the registered owner of the vehicle. Matos also lacked a Massachusetts License to Carry, prompting detectives to swiftly apply for a search warrant for their residence based on gathered intelligence.
Upon execution of the search warrant at the residence at 100 Green Street, Heritage Heights, detectives further confiscated an arsenal of firearms and ammunition, including a Glock 48 9mm handgun, a Smith & Wesson SD9VE 9mm handgun, numerous magazines, and boxes of various calibers of ammunition. Cortez now faces several charges, including possession of a large-capacity firearm, carrying a loaded firearm without a license, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Matos, on the other hand, faces charges relating to the possession of firearms without a license, improper storage of a firearm near a minor, and reckless endangerment of a child, among others.
The Fall River Police Department emphasized the importance of these policing efforts to prevent potential violence. "It is proactive policing efforts such as this that enable our officers to intercept illegal firearms before they can be used to harm others," the Fall River Police Department stated in its announcement.
