United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MAR 16 - BOSTON - Ten men were arrested in connection with an oxycodone, heroin, and fentanyl trafficking and money laundering operation operating between Massachusetts, Maine, and Florida.

Each of them was charged in a superseding indictment unsealed today, with offenses including conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments:

• Jesus Gonzalez, 22, of Haverhill, Mass.;
• Jenssi Astacio, 30, of Miami, Fla.;
• Gorky Gonzalez, 24, of Biddeford, Maine;
• Craig Drummond, 25, of Miami, Fla.;
• Darren Infante, 26, of Miami, Fla.;
• Moses Rodriguez, 29, of Lawrence, Mass.;
• George Noukas, 27, of Manchester, NH;
• Juan Reyes, 29, of Lawrence, Mass.;
• Johnny Urena, 29, of Lawrence, Mass.; and
• Jeffrey Brathwaite, 32, of Lawrence, Mass.

The superseding indictment, which was the result of a three-year investigation, alleges that beginning in at least 2014, Jesus Gonzalez, Astacio, Gorky Gonzalez, Drummond, Infante, Reyes, Urena, and others, participated in a conspiracy to transport sizeable quantities of oxycodone from Miami to Massachusetts, where it was distributed in the greater Boston area. Proceeds from the sale of the drug were then transported and/or transferred back to Florida and laundered in various ways. It is further alleged that beginning in at least 2014, Jesus Gonzalez, Rodriguez, Noukas, Urena, and Brathwaite participated in a conspiracy to distribute sizeable quantities of heroin and fentanyl in the greater Boston area.   

The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin or 40 grams or more of fentanyl provide for a minimum mandatory sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the funds involved, whichever is greater. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent-in-Charge of the DEA for New England; Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Joel P. Garland, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Shelly Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal of the District of Massachusetts; and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement. The Massachusetts State Police; Lawrence, Methuen, Natick, Stoughton, Millis, (New Hampshire), (Maine), Haverhill, Framingham, and Waltham Police Departments assisted with the investigation.