BOSTON – A federal grand jury sitting in Boston has returned a superseding indictment charging 16 individuals in Massachusetts in connection with their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking and money laundering scheme that allegedly distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.
The superseding indictment includes the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances that was initially brought against the following defendants in November 2022:
- Lawrence Michael Nagle, a/k/a “Mikey,” 32, of Saugus;
- Christopher Nagle, a/k/a “Cuda,” 28, of Revere;
- Javier Bello, a/k/a “Javi,” 27, of Beverly;
- Anthony Bryson, 33, of Billerica;
- Frantz Adolphe, 28, of Lynn;
- Soyanna Lages, 33, of Somerville;
- David Muise, a/k/a “Pinky,” 35, of Swampscott;
- David Delauri, 30, of Haverhill;
- Alexander Villar, 33 of Danvers;
- Edward Ortiz, 32, of Swampscott;
- Yaira Ramos-Rivera, 39, of Billerica;
- Jose Garcia, 45, of Roslindale;
- Chevon Dorce, 43, of Lynn; and
- Gino Castillo, 33, of Salem.
Additionally, the superseding indictment also adds two counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition for defendant Lawrence Michael Nagle; three additional counts of possession with the intent to distribute various controlled substances against Nagle and Castillo; as well as a money laundering conspiracy charge against Nagle and two new co-defendants Nancy Lopez, 33, of Saugus; and Samuel Saillant, 38, of Lynn.
Lopez was arrested yesterday and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was released on conditions. Saillant will make an appearance at a later date.
Fourteen of the 16 defendants charged in the superseding indictment were among 23 individuals arrested and charged in October 2022 in connection with a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization that distributed Adderall (both pharmaceutical-grade pills and counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine), methamphetamine, Xanax, Oxycodone (both pharmaceutical-grade and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl), cocaine and marijuana, among others. All 23 individuals were later indicted along with two additional defendants in November 2022. Eleven defendants have since pleaded guilty.
Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Beverly, Everett, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Evan D. Panich and James E. Arnold of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
