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Press Release

West Boylston Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Offense and Wire Fraud

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A West Boylston man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Worcester to possessing cocaine intended for distribution and wire fraud with respect to COVID-19 relief programs. 

Augustus “Bobo” Kormah, 33, pleaded guilty on June 20, 2023 to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of wire fraud. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for Oct. 18, 2023. Kormah was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2021. 

On Sept. 11, 2020, Kormah was arrested following a suspected drug transaction. During a search of Kormah’s apartment, approximately 26 grams of cocaine and ammunition was seized.  Additionally, between approximately May and October 2020, Kromah used personal information of others to submit false claims for COVID-19 unemployment benefits and small business loans. 

The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charges of wire fraud provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, 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 statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Secret Service, Boston Field Office; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General;  and Worcester Police Chief Steven Sargent made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lucy Sun of Levy’s Criminal Division and Danial Bennett of Levy’s Worcester Branch Office are prosecuting the case. 
          
This case is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Updated June 23, 2023

Topics
Coronavirus
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Drug Trafficking
Financial Fraud