Former Boston Gang Member Sentenced for Crack Cocaine Distribution

BOSTON – A former member of the St. James/Marcella gang was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing crack cocaine on multiple occasions to a cooperating witness.

Anthony Jackson, a/k/a “Hollywood,” 30, of Boston, was sentenced by United States District Judge Mark L. Wolf to 21 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In August 2021, Jackson pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base. Jackson has been in custody since his arrest in October 2020.

Between Sept. 1, 2020 and Oct. 3, 2020, Jackson distributed crack cocaine or cocaine to a cooperating witness on five occasions in Cambridge and Boston. Jackson was also found in possession of crack cocaine and $2,420 in cash at the time of his arrest on Oct. 29, 2020. In total, across the transactions, Jackson distributed approximately 22 grams of crack cocaine and nine grams of powder cocaine. Jackson has prior state convictions for unlawfully carrying a dangerous weapon, carrying a loaded firearm and possession of illegal substances.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Mendell’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.