Two Lynn Men Plead Guilty to Trafficking Crack Cocaine

BOSTON – Two Lynn men have pleaded guilty to federal charges related to their trafficking crack cocaine.

Jarmahl Sutson, a/k/a “Mahl,” and Nathaniel Freeman, a/k/a “Fatz,” both of Lynn, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and distributing crack cocaine.  Suton pleaded guilty on March 4, 2015 and Freeman pleaded guilty on Feb. 20, 2015.  U.S. District Judge William G. Young scheduled Freeman’s sentencing for May 26, 2015, and Sutson’s sentencing for June 10, 2015.  Both defendants were charged in the same indictment in August 2014.

At the change of plea hearing, Sutson admitted responsibility for distribution of over 70 grams of cocaine base.  Freeman admitted responsibility for distribution of over 30 grams of cocaine base.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was part of Operation Whiplash, an investigation of several street gangs in and around Lynn and Revere.  Over the past two years, Operation Whiplash has resulted in federal and state charges against 47 leaders, members, and associates of gangs, including Money Over Broken Bitches (MOBB), the Crips, and Deuce Boyz in Lynn and the Bloods in Revere.  The investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 10 firearms and large amounts of crack and other drugs.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Vincent B. Lisi, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Timothy P. Alben, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Kevin F. Coppinger of the Lynn Police Department, made the announcement.  Operation Whiplash was investigated by members of the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force, which includes members of the FBI; Massachusetts State Police; Essex County Sheriff’s Office; and Chelsea, Lynn and Revere Police Departments.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy E. Moran and Peter K. Levitt of Ortiz’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit.