Stoughton Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Cocaine Trafficking

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

Angel Morales, 46, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper to eight years in prison and three years of supervised release. In September 2017, Morales 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.  

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. During the search, agents 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, and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26, 2018.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Michael Shea, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, Superintendent, 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 Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.