Federal Jury Convicts Dorchester Man for Attempting to Kill Suspected Federal Witness

BOSTON – A federal jury convicted a Dorchester man with witness tampering by attempting to kill a man, and for his role in a multi-state sex trafficking ring.

Jaquan Casanova a/k/a “Cass,” “Joffe,” “Joffy,” and “Joffy Joe,” 24, of Dorchester, was convicted following a seven-day trial of tampering with a witness by attempting to kill him and lying to a federal agent about his involvement in the sex trafficking ring.  U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Sept.14, 2016.

On April 30, 2013, Casanova shot Darian Thomson (“Bo”) in the head to prevent him from communicating with federal law enforcement.   Casanova was a member of a multi-state criminal organization involved in sex trafficking, drug trafficking, and fraudulent check cashing headed by Raymond Jeffreys.  In March 2013, Thomson was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges while in custody in New Jersey on unrelated charges.  In April 2013, Thomson was released and returned to Boston, where Casanova attempted to kill him.  Jeffreys and other members of the criminal organization erroneously believed that Thomson had been released as a result of his cooperation with federal law enforcement, and that he would continue to provide information about their criminal activities. 

On May 19, 2016, Jeffreys was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to sex trafficking, tampering with a witness by attempting to kill him, and making a false statement to a federal agent. 

The charge of tampering with a witness by attempting to kill him or conspiring to do so provides a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and restitution.  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.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans, made the announcement today.  The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking and Homicide Units, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also wishes to recognize and thank Shawn Meehan, Resident Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations’ Portland, Maine Office; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Aaron Steps, Supervisory Senior Resident Agent in Charge of the FBI Maine Office; the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; Cumberland County (Maine) District Attorney’s Office; the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maine; the Massachusetts State Police; the Portland (Maine), Old Town (Maine), Braintree, and South Portland (Maine) Police Departments; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.  This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Harman Burkart and David D’Addio of Ortiz’s Civil Rights Enforcement Team and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David S. Bradley from the Suffolk County D.A.’s Office.