A member of the Brockton-based Harvard Street Gang has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for selling fentanyl.

Joshua Tavares, 29, of Brockton sold the drugs to a cooperating witness while he was out on probation for a 2019 fentanyl conviction and pre-trial release for a separate 2024 arrest, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and fentanyl analogue last May.

Following his prison sentence, Tavares will receive an additional five years of supervised release.

Tavares was identified as a member of the Harvard Street Gang, also known as HSG, in 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Over the course of the fall of 2024, Tavares made six sales of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids to cooperating witnesses. All of the deals were caught on video, the office said.

An arrest warrant and search warrants were issued in December 2024. Law enforcement recovered four kilograms of suspected fentanyl, cocaine, drug packaging materials, and almost $90,000.

Additionally, officers found several semi-automatic weapons that had been converted into machine guns using a switch device.

Since 2019, 20 people associated with HSG have been charged with crimes by local and federal agencies.

“Over 100 kilograms of drugs, including cocaine and fentanyl, and over 45 firearms, including multiple machine guns, have been seized,” the statement said. “According to court documents, HSG has been involved in gang violence, including shootings, murders and witness intimidation.”

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Shoplifting suspects wanted

Boston Police want help identifying two men they believe stole hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise from a store in Roxbury last Valentine’s Day.

Police said the two men, who were caught on surveillance footage, stole clothing form Snipes Shoe Store on Washington Street.

BPD described one suspect as a “Black male with dreadlocks, wearing black pants, a black top, and tan Timberland boots,” and the other as a “White male wearing a black jacket over a colorful sweater, blue jeans, and unknown footwear.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to reach out to police at 617-343-4275. Anonymous tips can be reported through the CrimeStoppers program.

Police say they’re looking for two men they believe shoplifted clothing from a Roxbury store. (Courtesy of BPD)

Incident Summary

BPD responded to 239 incidents in the 24-hour period ending at 10 a.m. Thursday, according to the department’s incident log. Those included three aggravated assaults, two residential burglaries, two larcenies from a vehicle, and 16 miscellaneous larcenies.

Arrests

All of the below-named defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

— Frederick Cummings, 17 Elizabeth St., Mattapan. Misdemeanor breaking and entering.

— Hector Rivera, 39 Boylston St., Boston. Possession of a Class B drug.

— Jamal Smith, 1111 Washington St., Boston. Possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug.

— Gregory Bagen, 786 Southern Artery St., Quincy. Larceny under $1,200.

— Loc Dang, 210 Arlington St., Quincy. Possession of a Class B drug.

— David McGrath, 105 Morse St., Watertown. Possession of a Class A drug.

— Sophonie Jean-Claude, 35 Northampton St., Roxbury. Trespassing.

— James Machado, 55R Minot St., Dorchester. Possession of Class B drug.

— Javon Coleman, 9 Fairview Ave., Braintree. Distribution of Class B drug.

— Amy Walker, no address listed. Possession of a Class B drug.

— Philip Larosa, 285 Washington Ave., Chelsea. Larceny from a building.

— Ruka White, 2 Centre Ave., Dorchester. Larceny under $250.

— Keith Waddie, 521 Talbot Ave., Dorchester. Larceny under $1,200.

— Bacari Ruff, no address listed. Uninsured motor vehicle.