Oxycodone Trafficker Convicted by Federal Jury

BOSTON – A New York-based oxycodone trafficker was convicted yesterday following a three-day trial in Boston.

Ilir Bregu, 46, of Staten Island, N.Y., was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone. U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. scheduled sentencing for June 7, 2018.

In 2014 and 2015, agents observed foot and vehicle traffic consistent with street-level drug sales coming and going from the home of Mario Scata, 71, and his son, Manuele Scata, 45, of Revere, and from Manuele Scata’s business, D & M Auto Doctor, on Bennington Street in East Boston. While investigating the Scatas’ oxycodone trafficking, Scatas’ pill supplier, Bregu, was identified through surveillance and phone analysis. After obtaining a search warrant to track the precise location of Bregu’s phone, it was determined that every two-to-three weeks, Bregu drove his vehicle from Staten Island to Revere or East Boston, met with one or both of the Scatas, and then returned to Staten Island.

On July 16, 2015, a series of search warrants were executed after tracking Bregu’s phone from Staten Island to East Boston and then watching as Bregu met with Mario and Manuele Scata at D & M Auto Doctor. During the searches, a sophisticated hidden compartment was discovered in Bregu’s vehicle, which contained $37,800 in U.S. currency. Approximately 1,900 oxycodone pills were also recovered, a loaded firearm, and a machete from Manuele Scata’s vehicle as well as additional oxycodone pills, a hand-written drug ledger, and nearly $12,000 in U.S. currency from the Scatas’ home.

In December 2017, Mario Scata pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2018. On Feb. 26, 2018, Manuele Scata pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, and use of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense. His sentencing is scheduled for May 29, 2018.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. 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; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Revere Police Chief James Guido; Quincy Police Chief Paul Keenan; and Boston Police Commissioner William Evans made the announcement today. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl, of Lelling’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit, and Miranda Hooker, of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit.