Four Charged in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

BOSTON – Four individuals were arrested and charged today in federal court in Boston in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

On May 30, 2019, Jose Perez Felix, a/k/a “Eugenio Piedraita-Rivera,” a/k/a “Roberto Patricio Ramirez,” a/k/a “Grande,” 41, of Dorchester; Edward Chapman, 51, of Pittsfield; Anthony Tsina, 35, of Quincy; and Yonatan Lara, 34, of Boston, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and oxycodone. The four men appeared in federal court today and were each ordered detained pending a detention hearing.

According to the charging document, in 2018, federal and state law enforcement began investigating members of a drug trafficking organization in and around the Boston area. Their investigation revealed that Perez Felix distributed large quantities of narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, from a base of operations in Boston. Over the course of the investigation, other members of Perez Felix’s drug cell were identified, including Lara. Furthermore, Chapman and Tsina were identified as significant drug traffickers supplied by Perez Felix.

On May 30, 2019, agents executed several search warrants, which resulted in the seizure of cell phones, materials commonly used to package drugs for street level sale, digital scales, and over 100 grams of suspected heroin and/or fentanyl.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and oxycodone provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of 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.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of  Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Colonel Kerry Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea Porter of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.