Cape Cod Man Pleads Guilty to Heroin Trafficking and Money Laundering

BOSTON – A Hyannis man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with trafficking heroin and money laundering.

Christian Chapman, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and money laundering. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for July 12, 2017.

In October 2015, law enforcement initiated an effort to address the rising opiate epidemic in Massachusetts and on Cape Cod in particular. According to court documents, Chapman and other co-conspirators were responsible for a significant quantity of the heroin distributed on Cape Cod. A wiretap investigation led to their arrests and indictment. Chapman obtained heroin from New Bedford, amongst other suppliers, and distributed the heroin to numerous drug dealers on Cape Cod. In total, Chapman agreed to accept responsibility for between 400 and 700 grams of heroin. In addition, Chapman rented a home in Hyannis at which he stored his narcotics. In order to pay the rent, Chapman wired money to the individual whose name was on the lease.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. 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.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe; and Barnstable Police Chief Paul MacDonald, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Rosen of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.