Former Member of "Head Shot Mafia" Drug Crew Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution

BOSTON – A former member of the “Head Shot Mafia” (HSM) Brockton drug crew pleaded guilty on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 to conspiracy charges involving fentanyl.

Djoy Defrancesco, 24, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for June 8, 2021. Defrancesco and three fellow HSM members were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2019.

As alleged in court documents, law enforcement began investigating a violent Brockton-area drug crew that distributed large quantities of fentanyl throughout southeastern Massachusetts. The drug crew, which referred to itself as “Head Shot Mafia” (HSM) ran a fentanyl delivery service that encompassed all of Brockton as well as neighboring cities. Specifically, it is alleged that drug users/customers placed orders for fentanyl by contacting a cellphone maintained and shared by HSM crew members, which included Defrancesco. HSM members worked together to deliver the fentanyl order. Beginning in September 2019, agents introduced an undercover law enforcement officer to HSM, who made six purchases of fentanyl from members of the crew.

Defrancesco sold fentanyl to the undercover officer while on pre-trial release from a Plymouth Superior Court indictment charging him with trafficking in fentanyl and possession of a high capacity feeding device, among other offenses.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Whitman and Bridgewater State University Police Departments as well as the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.