United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON – A Malden man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston in connection with distributing methamphetamine to an undercover law enforcement officer.

David Desousa, 32, pleaded guilty on Sept. 22, 2022 to one count of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of distributing a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine and three counts of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Jan. 25, 2023. Desousa was arrested in August 2020 and subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2020.

In February 2020, federal agents began an undercover investigation into DeSousa’s methamphetamine distribution activities. On three separate occasions in February, March and July 2020, Desousa met with and sold various quantities of methamphetamine to an undercover agent. Desousa was arrested on Aug. 6, 2020 in Medford while he was travelling to deliver two ounces of methamphetamine to the undercover agent. More than 55 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine and 10.814 grams of cocaine base were seized from Desousa’s vehicle. During a subsequent search of Desousa’s residence, agents seized more than 75 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded Remington .380 caliber pistol. An additional 83 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine and $90,000 in cash were also seized from Desousa’s storage unit.

The charges of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute each provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $10 million and forfeiture. The charge of distributing five grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $5 million and forfeiture. The charge of distributing a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of $1 million and forfeiture. 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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Arlington Police Chief Juliann Flaherty; Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley; and Malden Police Chief Glenn Cronin made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and James E. Arnold of Rollins’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.