Four Men Plead Guilty to Opioid Trafficking Conspiracy

BOSTON – Four men pleaded guilty this week in federal court in Boston to their roles in an opioid trafficking conspiracy involving the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone across Massachusetts and Florida.

George Noukas, 27, of Manchester, N.H., pleaded guilty on March 28 to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.

Moses Rodriguez, 30, of Lawrence, Mass., pleaded guilty on March 29 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

Craig Drummond, 26, of Sunny Isles Beach, Fla., and Juan Reyes, 29, of Lawrence, Mass., each pleaded guilty today to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.

U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper deferred acceptance of Noukas’ and Rodriguez’s pleas until sentencing, both of which she scheduled for June 25, 2018. Judge Casper scheduled Drummond’s and Reyes’ sentencings for July 17, 2018, and June 20, 2018, respectively.

Noukas, Rodriguez, Drummond, and Reyes were arrested in March 2017 for their roles in a widespread conspiracy involving opioid trafficking and money laundering offenses in Massachusetts and Florida. Their arrests were the result of a three-year federal investigation into opioid-trafficking in New England.

According to charging documents, from at least 2014, Rodriguez and Noukas distributed sizeable quantities of heroin and fentanyl in the greater Boston area, and Drummond and Reyes transported sizeable quantities of oxycodone from Miami, Fla., to Massachusetts, where it, too, was distributed in the greater Boston area. Proceeds from the illicit oxycodone sales were then transported back to Florida and laundered in various ways.     

The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin provides for a minimum sentence five years and up to 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million.  The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million, and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property laundered, and forfeiture. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Biddeford (Maine), Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Manchester (N.H.), Methuen, Millis, Natick, Stoughton, and Waltham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Karen Beausey, Nadine Pellegrini and Craig Estes of Lelling’s Office are prosecuting the cases.

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.