GREENFIELD — Two cousins are being held on bail after they were arrested Monday morning as the result of an investigation by the Greenfield Police Department and the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force.

Jose R. Rodriguez, 45, of Hope Street in Greenfield, and Carlos I. Feliciano-Bauza, 44, of New Jersey, pleaded not guilty in Greenfield District Court to single counts of trafficking in cocaine, 200 grams or more, and possession with intent to distribute a Class A drug. Judge William Mazanec III ordered Rodriguez held on $500,000 bail and Feliciano-Bauza on $200,000 bail.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber is prosecuting these cases. Rodriguez was represented by defense attorney Elizabeth Johnson. Attorney Chrisiant Bracken represented Feliciano-Bauza on Monday but said Nora Allard will take over the case.

Bracken asked Mazanec to hold her client on $3,000 bail. She said Feliciano-Bauza has a life and responsibilities in New Jersey, and was only in Massachusetts to pick up a vehicle from his brother after his own was totaled. But Webber argued that Feliciano-Bauza’s life in New Jersey makes him a significant flight risk.

According to a narrative filed by Jay Butynski, a detective with the Greenfield Police Department, the Anti-Crime Task Force teamed up with his department in 2022 for a long-term investigation into Rodriguez with help from the Massachusetts State Police Technical Services Unit, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England and New Jersey field divisions, the Linden (New Jersey) Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police.

On Dec. 5, 2022, Rodriguez was arrested in Greenfield following the execution of search warrants and charged with trafficking in cocaine, more than 100 grams and less than 200 grams, and trafficking in fentanyl, more than 10 grams. He was released from custody after posting $5,000 bail and being outfitted with a GPS ankle bracelet. However, investigators received credible information that Rodriguez resumed selling narcotics and a new investigation was initiated. Authorities developed probable cause to believe he and Feliciano-Bauza were involved in dealing drugs.

Both men were arrested on High Street on Monday after driving away from Rodriguez’s Hope Street residence. Rodriguez reportedly exited the vehicle without incident and was informed that authorities were executing a search warrant of a Park Street storage garage and other locations authorities believe he was using as part of his operation.

According to Butynski’s narrative, a search of the Park Street garage turned up approximately 2 kilograms of suspected cocaine, roughly 520 bags of heroin/fentanyl, a large sum of currency, a digital scale and paperwork with Rodriguez’s name. A large amount of money was also found at Rodriguez’s Hope Street residence, and police found roughly 20 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl and a digital scale at a Forbes Court apartment belonging to another individual.

Rodriguez and Feliciano-Bauza are due back in court on March 29.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or
413-930-4120.

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