Bobby Richard

It's testing the waters is what it is. If you do it wrong the first time, you get away with it. You try it again, right? If you realize that you can subjugate the rules by taking a risk and doing something incorrect, sloppy, or illegal, and you've gotten away with it, then you do it again.

It's testing the waters is what it is. If you do it wrong the first time, you get away with it. You try it again, right? If you realize that you can subjugate the rules by taking a risk and doing something incorrect, sloppy, or illegal, and you've gotten away with it, then you do it again.

It's put in the safe. Hold this for me. He goes back to Paul and tells him it's good to go. There's 250 grams of cocaine in the house and all that stuff and everything.

It's put in the safe. Hold this for me. He goes back to Paul and tells him it's good to go. There's 250 grams of cocaine in the house and all that stuff and everything.

So one mid-level dealer can fetch you a dozen low-level dealers because of the way that it breaks down. You take 500 grams of powder cocaine and you push that out to 10 dealers, 50 grams at a time.

So one mid-level dealer can fetch you a dozen low-level dealers because of the way that it breaks down. You take 500 grams of powder cocaine and you push that out to 10 dealers, 50 grams at a time.

You know, you're that mid-level informant and you say that this guy's dealing, this guy's dealing, this guy's dealing. And it's just a matter of time until you start rounding them up. The mid-level dealer doesn't care because he'll get new distributors as the process goes on. He's only giving you the guys that he wants to fuck, for lack of a better terminology.

You know, you're that mid-level informant and you say that this guy's dealing, this guy's dealing, this guy's dealing. And it's just a matter of time until you start rounding them up. The mid-level dealer doesn't care because he'll get new distributors as the process goes on. He's only giving you the guys that he wants to fuck, for lack of a better terminology.

But he'll give you those guys because it sustains his ability to be able to go out there and deal at the level he's doing. We used to call it a license to deal. A license to deal. You know, because you think that you have the blessing to do it. Think about it. You get the best of both worlds.

But he'll give you those guys because it sustains his ability to be able to go out there and deal at the level he's doing. We used to call it a license to deal. A license to deal. You know, because you think that you have the blessing to do it. Think about it. You get the best of both worlds.

You're a drug dealer who has the advocacy of one of the top police detectives in the jurisdiction that you live in.

You're a drug dealer who has the advocacy of one of the top police detectives in the jurisdiction that you live in.

It's always in the back of your mind, like, I know this is going on, right? And I'm part of the problem too. By allowing it to happen and all that stuff, I'm culpable. I participated and I knew that, you know, that stuff that was going on is illegal. Things just had gotten to the point of no control, really. We could see that the, you know, the corruption level was just off the hook.

It's always in the back of your mind, like, I know this is going on, right? And I'm part of the problem too. By allowing it to happen and all that stuff, I'm culpable. I participated and I knew that, you know, that stuff that was going on is illegal. Things just had gotten to the point of no control, really. We could see that the, you know, the corruption level was just off the hook.

There's a few people that know this stuff about Paul Ver, right from the womb, right? Who have lived it with him.

There's a few people that know this stuff about Paul Ver, right from the womb, right? Who have lived it with him.

We're no longer openly friendly with each other. We didn't do stuff to piss him off. We were like ships in the night.

We're no longer openly friendly with each other. We didn't do stuff to piss him off. We were like ships in the night.

That's the point where our relationship got most frictious. Our relationship pivoted at that point. I felt that he went out of his way to investigate me from an internal affairs level.

That's the point where our relationship got most frictious. Our relationship pivoted at that point. I felt that he went out of his way to investigate me from an internal affairs level.

It's one strike rule. If you catch me with a cigarette or a cigar, it's immediately fireable.

It's one strike rule. If you catch me with a cigarette or a cigar, it's immediately fireable.

I think I'm one of three people in the state of Massachusetts who lost their job for smoking. And I think it was that he wanted me completely out of the picture because of the stuff that I know. I can't think of any other reason, to be honest with you.

I think I'm one of three people in the state of Massachusetts who lost their job for smoking. And I think it was that he wanted me completely out of the picture because of the stuff that I know. I can't think of any other reason, to be honest with you.

I think that he probably started on day one and said, I want to be the police chief, right? A lot of people don't start on the factory floor and say, I want to be the CEO. But it seemed to me that he had a clear direction in his mind about what he wanted to do. And that was, you know, rising to the top of the profession.

I think that he probably started on day one and said, I want to be the police chief, right? A lot of people don't start on the factory floor and say, I want to be the CEO. But it seemed to me that he had a clear direction in his mind about what he wanted to do. And that was, you know, rising to the top of the profession.

I mean, I met him in the Dunkin' Donuts in Freetown, for Christ's sakes. And he was true to form. He came in, unlocked vehicle, and he was wearing a fucking trench coat. And I'm like, Jesus, I know who you are. This guy stuck out like a sore thumb.

I mean, I met him in the Dunkin' Donuts in Freetown, for Christ's sakes. And he was true to form. He came in, unlocked vehicle, and he was wearing a fucking trench coat. And I'm like, Jesus, I know who you are. This guy stuck out like a sore thumb.

Questions had come up about some of the processes, informants, people that he was working with. And then we went back to, you know, the foundation, the pain and history of corruption, right? Where it just, it was a continuous process with him. It had been going on, you know, for a decade, 10, 12, 14 years and all that stuff.

Questions had come up about some of the processes, informants, people that he was working with. And then we went back to, you know, the foundation, the pain and history of corruption, right? Where it just, it was a continuous process with him. It had been going on, you know, for a decade, 10, 12, 14 years and all that stuff.

hopeful that something was gonna i swear to god i thought that uh you know the feds would pull up outside of his house one day and lock him up and that would be it and it just never happened never happened no i think that it is it's categorically insane that this guy's but this has been going on this long and no federal agency can put pieces of the puzzle together richard says the fbi actually contacted him twice within the last decade asking about olivera as recently as 2022.

hopeful that something was gonna i swear to god i thought that uh you know the feds would pull up outside of his house one day and lock him up and that would be it and it just never happened never happened no i think that it is it's categorically insane that this guy's but this has been going on this long and no federal agency can put pieces of the puzzle together richard says the fbi actually contacted him twice within the last decade asking about olivera as recently as 2022.

I want to see the fucking feds drive up on this guy's lawn and lock him up, get in his Suburban one morning. They really do. I think that that's the only way that this would bring closure to it for a lot of people.

I want to see the fucking feds drive up on this guy's lawn and lock him up, get in his Suburban one morning. They really do. I think that that's the only way that this would bring closure to it for a lot of people.

Back then, he reached a level of invincibility where he felt like he couldn't be touched. He had become so successful in what he was doing on a daily basis and getting away with it that he became kind of like invincible, you know? Speak of the devil, there he is.

Back then, he reached a level of invincibility where he felt like he couldn't be touched. He had become so successful in what he was doing on a daily basis and getting away with it that he became kind of like invincible, you know? Speak of the devil, there he is.

It's a black Suburban, yeah, I was going by that. Black Suburban at the lights. Five-digit plate, so in case you guys are ever out just looking around. Holy shit.

It's a black Suburban, yeah, I was going by that. Black Suburban at the lights. Five-digit plate, so in case you guys are ever out just looking around. Holy shit.

The things that we talk about, I was directly involved in. I saw, I was aware of, I was told, not things that are hearsay.

The things that we talk about, I was directly involved in. I saw, I was aware of, I was told, not things that are hearsay.

New Bedford's a small enough place where I went to the police academy with Paul. We knew each other. What was your first impression of him? Confident, right? Above average in terms of, I think, comprehension for what we're getting into.

New Bedford's a small enough place where I went to the police academy with Paul. We knew each other. What was your first impression of him? Confident, right? Above average in terms of, I think, comprehension for what we're getting into.

He had a high level of interaction and stops and arrests and some fairly successful ones. So it set him above... you know, the people at the time that they were considering. He was a rising star as a patrol officer and all that stuff.

He had a high level of interaction and stops and arrests and some fairly successful ones. So it set him above... you know, the people at the time that they were considering. He was a rising star as a patrol officer and all that stuff.

So just about three and a half years, and then, you know, I was looking to take the next step.

So just about three and a half years, and then, you know, I was looking to take the next step.

You had to be chosen. At the time, there was only 12 detectives that worked in there. It was a highly coveted position.

You had to be chosen. At the time, there was only 12 detectives that worked in there. It was a highly coveted position.

We would focus on hot areas. You know, if there was rampant, you know, dealing, we'd set up surveillance and all that stuff. We would work with, you know, outside agencies, you know, like the DEA, which was, you know, something that was pretty cool for, you know, a city kid.

We would focus on hot areas. You know, if there was rampant, you know, dealing, we'd set up surveillance and all that stuff. We would work with, you know, outside agencies, you know, like the DEA, which was, you know, something that was pretty cool for, you know, a city kid.

I mean, like, this machine looks good, and I'm going to keep putting money in it until it hits, and it doesn't happen, you know?

I mean, like, this machine looks good, and I'm going to keep putting money in it until it hits, and it doesn't happen, you know?

It's about credibility, is what it is, because people make up informants, right? So I could tell you that Dugan Arnett is my informant, but he might not even exist.

It's about credibility, is what it is, because people make up informants, right? So I could tell you that Dugan Arnett is my informant, but he might not even exist.

When he came into the unit, he had an abundance of informants. He had low-level informants, medium-level informants, some upper-level people and all that stuff and everything. So it was a magic carpet ride for Paul.

When he came into the unit, he had an abundance of informants. He had low-level informants, medium-level informants, some upper-level people and all that stuff and everything. So it was a magic carpet ride for Paul.

I compare it to going out in a home run every time you're at the plate. You stand there, and you swing, and every ball's going all the way to the fence. The sheer joy of it, knowing that you're going to be able to do that, but also everything that goes on around that.

I compare it to going out in a home run every time you're at the plate. You stand there, and you swing, and every ball's going all the way to the fence. The sheer joy of it, knowing that you're going to be able to do that, but also everything that goes on around that.

You're rounding the bases, and everybody's clapping for you, and the announcers are talking about you, and it's on the highlight reels and all that stuff. And I remember the boss used to have a reference to Paul. He's like, He's the winning horse. He's winning all the races right now. We're just going to fucking ride him. We're going to ride him, ride him, ride him. Fucking everybody jump on.

You're rounding the bases, and everybody's clapping for you, and the announcers are talking about you, and it's on the highlight reels and all that stuff. And I remember the boss used to have a reference to Paul. He's like, He's the winning horse. He's winning all the races right now. We're just going to fucking ride him. We're going to ride him, ride him, ride him. Fucking everybody jump on.

We're just going to ride him.

We're just going to ride him.

He certainly took advantage of the fact that this guy was doing cases like crazy and bringing in numbers and bringing in money and bringing in, you know, positive media and all that stuff and everything. It was just a win-win.

He certainly took advantage of the fact that this guy was doing cases like crazy and bringing in numbers and bringing in money and bringing in, you know, positive media and all that stuff and everything. It was just a win-win.

This guy could go out and hit a home run every time. It's just impossible, right? Until people figured out how and why and why it was taking place.

This guy could go out and hit a home run every time. It's just impossible, right? Until people figured out how and why and why it was taking place.

I remember that the DEA had been set up on this particular house for the longest time, about a year and a half trying to do it, and they never could do it.

I remember that the DEA had been set up on this particular house for the longest time, about a year and a half trying to do it, and they never could do it.

Remember Paul doing a pre-rate briefing for this house and being like, holy Christ, this is this place, you know what I mean?

Remember Paul doing a pre-rate briefing for this house and being like, holy Christ, this is this place, you know what I mean?

I'm like, what the fuck is going on?

I'm like, what the fuck is going on?

We had a press conference, the whole dog and pony show and all that stuff. Richard asks, what's going on?

We had a press conference, the whole dog and pony show and all that stuff. Richard asks, what's going on?

That's a hell of a reward, huh, for an informant? You know what I mean?

That's a hell of a reward, huh, for an informant? You know what I mean?

Paul did himself. Yeah, directly.

Paul did himself. Yeah, directly.

And I remember a couple of days later, the lieutenant was fucking taken with him. He went out and there was a picture of him sitting behind, the drugs were all spread on the table and cash and all. He took a picture of him. He had it blown up to like 16 by fucking 20 and had it framed and brought it in and gave it to Paul. He was so proud of him, right?

And I remember a couple of days later, the lieutenant was fucking taken with him. He went out and there was a picture of him sitting behind, the drugs were all spread on the table and cash and all. He took a picture of him. He had it blown up to like 16 by fucking 20 and had it framed and brought it in and gave it to Paul. He was so proud of him, right?

And I'm sitting there, I'm like, holy fuck, man. This is how far we've come.

And I'm sitting there, I'm like, holy fuck, man. This is how far we've come.

Biggest case in New Bedford drug narcotics history, right? At the time, it was all fucking bullshit. It was all completely bullshit.

Biggest case in New Bedford drug narcotics history, right? At the time, it was all fucking bullshit. It was all completely bullshit.