Taunton Man Sentenced for Heroin Distribution

BOSTON – A Taunton man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for heroin distribution.

Nathan Pinho, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 57 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2016, Pinho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute heroin.

In August 2015, Pinho was arrested on state firearm and drug charges, and was accused of shooting six times at victims in a car in Taunton. Despite his arrest, Pinho began writing to his girlfriend, Adrianna Gerardi, from jail, instructing her to continue distributing heroin on his behalf. He directed her on how to obtain the drugs, how much to pay for them, how much to cut the product, and how much to charge. Pinho also wrote to Adilson Teixeira, his heroin supplier, thanking Teixeira for helping him and Gerardi.

Pinho’s letters were intercepted by authorities and used to conduct an undercover investigation. An undercover officer made controlled heroin purchases from Gerardi on five different occasions in December 2015 and January 2016. The operation culminated with the arrests of Pinho, Gerardi, and Teixeira on federal drug conspiracy charges in April 2016.

Gerardi pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years of probation, to commence after her release from state custody. Teixeira pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today. The Taunton and Fall River Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Heinrich of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.