According to recent reports, a man from Weymouth, Massachusetts, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a cocaine trafficking conspiracy that distributed over 44 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico, which he and a co-conspirator obtained via U.S. mail. Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant that grew in popularity during the crack cocaine epidemic in the 1980s. While in recent years, the drug has taken a backseat to opioids, cocaine abuse remains a consistent problem in the nation. Below is more on this intense drug trafficking charge and the dangers of cocaine.
Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Distributed Over 44 Kilograms in the U.S.
Drug trafficking refers to the intentional sale, manufacture, purchase, possession, delivery, or transportation of certain amounts of narcotics. Minimum drug smuggling amounts will vary depending on the substance involved in the allegation. According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Office of Grants and Research, offenses like trafficking drugs were the third most common offense among the criminally sentenced population on January 1, 2017.1 Depending on the substance involved, Massachusetts drug trafficking laws may vary.
In this recent drug trafficking case, John Tavares, 36, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on February 7, 2023, by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin and eight years of supervised release. Tavares was also ordered to forfeit the profit he made off cocaine, a total of $91,940.2 While this is a major charge, this isn’t Tavares’s first run-in with the law.
Back in October 2019, Tavares pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine. He’s believed to have funneled more than $1 million worth of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts.2
In addition to the large number of harmful drugs kept in his possession, Tavares was also found to possess numerous firearms meant to protect his stash of drugs, further endangering the community.
This case is an excellent example of the importance of sustaining the safety and security of Postal Service employees and customers. Postal inspectors are meant to investigate individuals who ship illicit drugs through the U.S. mail.
Federal investigators identified more than 40 suspicious parcels that had been sent through U.S. mail from Puerto Rico to various addresses in Massachusetts, including residences in Quincy, North Dartmouth, Weymouth, and New Bedford. Two of the parcels intercepted contained approximately two kilograms of cocaine hidden in sealed coffee cans.2
Through this surveillance, it was determined that Tavares and co-conspirator Cristina Lopez were receiving most of these parcels. It was also discovered that Tavares was frequently flying to Puerto Rico for trips lasting 30 to 72 hours.2 The parcels containing cocaine were typically sent within days of his return to Massachusetts.
Additional searches of residences in Weymouth, North Dartmouth, and Boston used by Tavares and Lopez in their cocaine trafficking endeavors resulted in seizures of over three kilograms of cocaine, over $100,00o in cash, firearms, ammunition, and various drug paraphernalia.2 CDs containing photos of Tavares were also seized. These photos depicted Tavares posing in a bedroom with rifles, one of which was equipped with a silencer, and photos of Tavares with large stacks of cash.2
Our Crack Cocaine Rehab in Massachusetts
Cocaine is a highly dangerous stimulant that can lead to addiction, among numerous other diseases. Our crack cocaine rehab program offers medically assisted treatment designed to help individuals addicted to this drug recover both physically and psychologically. If you or someone you care about is battling cocaine use disorder, don’t wait to get help.
Call Clearbrook Treatment Centers today at 570-536-9621 or send us your contact information to be connected to an admission specialist and learn more about our Massachusetts substance abuse treatment.
Sources:
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Office of Grants and Research – Fiscal Year 2017 Residential Substance Abuse Treatment for State Prisoners Formula Grant Program
- DOJ/US Attorney’s Office – Weymouth Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy
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