Boston Woman Sentenced for Using Stolen Identity to Rent Apartments Used for Drug Trafficking

BOSTON – A Boston woman was sentenced on May 22, 2025, for committing access device fraud and for participating in a conspiracy to fraudulently rent two apartments, subsequently used for drug trafficking, under a stolen identity.

Ashley Roostaie, a/k/a “Lola,” a/k/a “dropdeadlola,” 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris to two years’ probation. The defendant was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $1,000 in restitution. In February 2025, Roostaie pleaded guilty to one count of access device fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Roostaie was charged in April 2023, along with co-conspirator Terrence Pyrtle.

Roostaie and Pyrtle utilized the personal identification information (including Social Security number) of another individual to apply for and enter into lease agreements for two apartments in Braintree and Somerville, respectively. As part of their conspiracy, Roostaie and Pyrtle created an email account under the name of the individual’s identity that they had submitted in connection with the apartments. They also transmitted a counterfeit driver’s license to the apartment complexes, which contained the individual’s name and some of their personal identification information but depicted a different individual’s photograph. By placing the apartment leases and corresponding utility and insurance contracts under another individual’s personal identification information, Roostaie and Pyrtle were able to conceal their connection to and use of the apartments, which Pyrtle used to participate in a drug conspiracy involving distribution quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and methamphetamine.

Roostaie and Pyrtle also used the victim’s personal identification information (including Social Security number) to obtain and use a prepaid debit card to make payments associated with each of the apartments.

Pyrtle pleaded guilty to his involvement in these offenses, as well as to aggravated identity theft, drug conspiracy and multiple counts of drug distribution, in April 2025 and is awaiting sentencing.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Westport Police Departments; and the Bristol County and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of the Criminal Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang 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.