Stoughton Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking

BOSTON – A Stoughton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston for his role in a cocaine distribution operation in the South Shore.

Angel Morales, 46, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for ­­­Dec. 12, 2017.

From late February 2016 until July 19, 2016, Morales conspired with co-defendant Roberto Fonseca-Rivera, 46, of Roslindale, and others to distribute cocaine in Canton, Stoughton, Randolph, Quincy, and Weymouth.  Morales asked Fonseca-Rivera to receive packages containing cocaine that were being shipped from Puerto Rico to locations in Randolph and Canton, where Fonseca-Rivera had rented private mailboxes.  Fonseca-Rivera received at least eight packages from Puerto Rico and delivered them to Morales, who paid Fonseca-Rivera for receiving the cocaine.  Morales had a similar arrangement with another individual who also received packages of cocaine on behalf of Morales.  Morales and Fonseca-Rivera then distributed the cocaine to other individuals.  

On July 19, 2016, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Morales’ apartment in Stoughton where they seized approximately $11,000 in cash, more than 100 grams of cocaine, a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and two magazines containing 15 rounds of ammunition each, a box containing an additional 10 rounds of ammunition, and various drug trafficking paraphernalia.

Fonseca-Rivera pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, 2017.

The charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.  The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.  The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of no greater than 10 years, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William Weinreb; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Matthew Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys James E. Arnold and Craig E. Estes of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.