Feds say they’ve dismantled cocaine operation in Brighton housing complex
Two dozen gang members who allegedly ran a drug ring in a Brighton housing complex face federal charges after a sweep this week in which feds and Boston police confiscated a half kilo of cocaine, 30 firearms and $350,000.
The 18-month investigation dubbed “Operation Snowfall” targeted defendants in the Commonwealth Development on Fidelis Way who distributed cocaine and cocaine base, U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling’s office said.
“In case anyone needed it, this investigation is yet another reminder that our law enforcement officers are committed to protecting the residents of our communities from harm,” said Lelling in a statement Wednesday.
The alleged leaders of the operation have ties to the Fidelis Way street gang and chose the Brighton complex whose single entryway and exit “made the location appealing,” Boston Police detective Gregory Brown wrote in an affidavit.
Local law enforcement entities including Boston Police and Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office took part in the 18-month investigation.
“During these times of significant societal upheaval and uncertainty, it is critical that we work together to ensure the safety and health of our neighborhoods,” said Rollins in a statement. “… It is a clear message that we have not and will not rest until all our communities are safe and free from this criminal and dangerous conduct.”
Law enforcement executed 17 search warrants Wednesday across Brighton, Dorchester, Roxbury, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Randolph, Holbrook and Braintree. Feds say investigators purchased and seized approximately 1.7 kilograms of cocaine and cocaine base, 27 pounds of marijuana, approximately $200,000 in cash and 11 firearms during the investigation.
A 117-page affidavit released by feds details the operation’s inner workings, including a detailed phone conversation recorded by feds in April in which a defendant gives a “cooking class” to another regarding the quality of cocaine produced.
The defendants, all between the ages of 25 and 44, have lengthy criminal records and face various drug charges carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/31eD5bz
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