UPDATE: Graciela Paulino, a 28-year-old woman from Lowell, has been arrested again, this time facing serious drug charges following a narcotics investigation by the Tewksbury Police. This arrest comes just four years after her conviction for the fatal road-rage shooting of Marc Devoe, a 34-year-old construction worker, in February 2018.
Authorities confirm that Paulino was taken into custody on Monday, October 16, 2023, at the Motel 6 on Main Street, where detectives were monitoring narcotics activity. Paulino’s vehicle was stopped after a woman, described as “a known drug user,” was seen briefly entering it. Upon questioning, officers found the woman in possession of crack cocaine, leading to further scrutiny of Paulino’s vehicle.
A search revealed a shocking cache: over $3,145 in cash, two cell phones, 45 rounds of .22-caliber ammunition, 18.9 grams of marijuana, and a gram of crack cocaine. Paulino now faces multiple charges, including distribution of a Class B drug and possession of ammunition without a firearm identification card.
Paulino’s legal troubles are compounded by her ongoing probation from her previous conviction, which was set to last until July 2029. In November 2019, she was sentenced to a total of nine and a half years in prison for manslaughter and firearm offenses after fatally shooting Devoe in a road-rage incident at the Gallagher Transit Terminal. During her sentencing, she expressed deep remorse, stating, “It is something that has changed my life, and will always affect and stay with me.”
In a turn of events, Paulino was also arrested last December for stealing a winning $200 Keno ticket while working at a gas station. That incident led to an extension of her probation until October 2029.
The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office is now closely monitoring her latest arrest, which has triggered a probation violation hearing set for December 17. During this hearing, a judge will determine whether Paulino violated her probation terms, potentially leading to the revocation of her probation and a return to prison.
Paulino was arraigned on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, where Judge John Coffey set bail at $250 cash or $2,500 surety. This latest arrest raises concerns not only about her past actions but also about her future as she faces serious legal consequences once again.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops. Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
