Fall River police say a fast-moving investigation into an armed robbery near the Belmont Club on Franklin Street has landed three city residents in handcuffs, along with a gun and a sizable stash of suspected fentanyl. According to detectives, a July 24 search warrant at a Rodman Street residence turned up a Ruger SR9C 9mm handgun, a 17-round magazine loaded with 14 rounds, roughly 50.13 grams of suspected fentanyl, and clothing that investigators say matches surveillance images from the July 17 robbery.
WBSM reports that officers identified the suspects as Fall River residents Aaren Howard, 36, Adilson Moreno, 23, and Ariana Santos, 31, and found all three at the Rodman Street address when they served the warrant.
Per WBSM, Howard is charged with armed robbery, receiving stolen property, improper storage of a firearm, and trafficking fentanyl in an amount of 36 grams or more. Moreno faces weapons and related counts, and Santos is charged with armed robbery. Police also told the outlet that Moreno had active arrest warrants and was wanted by Massachusetts State Parole.
What the Fentanyl Charge Could Mean
Massachusetts treats fentanyl trafficking as a high-weight offense, and the numbers matter a lot. Under state law, possessing or trafficking a net weight of 10 grams or more of fentanyl, or a mixture containing it, carries a mandatory minimum prison term of 3.5 years, according to Massachusetts General Laws, ch. 94C §32E.
That statutory threshold, along with the lab testing that will confirm the drug's net weight, is expected to be central if prosecutors move forward on the trafficking allegation tied to the roughly 50.13 grams of suspected fentanyl seized during the search.
Belmont Club, Surveillance and Police Note
The Belmont Club, a longtime downtown bar at 34 Franklin Street, confirmed that it provided surveillance footage to investigators. The club's contact page lists its address as 34 Franklin St.
WBSM reports that club management told reporters the robbery happened nearby, not inside the bar. Police, in turn, publicly credited their team, saying that "their dedication, persistence, and countless hours of investigative work paid off" in identifying suspects in the case.
Authorities say the investigation is still active, and that additional court filings could flesh out the timeline and specific counts the three defendants will face as the cases move through Bristol County courts. Fall River Police and court officials did not immediately release arraignment dates or further booking details beyond what detectives have already reported.
