Three Cape Cod Men Plead Guilty To Heroin Trafficking And Firearms Charges
SEP 20 - BOSTON, Ma. - Three Cape Cod men have pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with trafficking heroin and conspiring to possess a firearm in furtherance of heroin trafficking.
Sean Pratt, 28, of Marstons Mills, pleaded guilty on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and possession of heroin with the intent to distribute. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Dec. 16, 2016. Benjamin Roderick, 20, of Hyannis, pleaded guilty yesterday to conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Judge Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10, 2017.
In October 2015, law enforcement initiated an effort to address the rising opiate epidemic in Massachusetts and on Cape Cod in particular. As alleged in a criminal complaint, Denzel Chisholm, Christopher Wilkins and other co-conspirators are responsible for a significant quantity of the heroin distributed on Cape Cod. Pratt purchased large quantities of heroin from Chisholm and sold it to other distributors. During a search of Pratt’s home, law enforcement officers recovered heroin and a firearm. Roderick regularly purchased heroin from Wilkins for distribution and personal use. On March 7, 2016, Roderick attempted to trade Wilkins a firearm for 10 grams of heroin, however, Roderick was arrested prior to exchanging the gun with Wilkins. Richard Serriello, 30, of West Dennis, pleaded guilty on Friday, Sept. 16, 2016, to possession of heroin with the intent to distribute. U.S. District Court Senior Judge Mark L. Wolf scheduled sentencing for Dec. 20, 2016.
On May 21, 2015, law enforcement officers recovered approximately 400 grams of heroin from Serriello that he stowed in his motorcycle. Earlier that day, investigators observed Serreillo engage in a drug transaction. When police attempted to stop Serriello, he took off on his motorcycle, swerved into oncoming traffic and evaded law enforcement. Later that day, Serriello’s motorcycle was found parked in Dennis and the concealed heroin was discovered. Chisholm and Wilkins have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million. The charge of conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of heroin with the intent to distribute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. 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 Drug Enforcement Administration for New England; United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Lawrence J. Panetta, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe; and Barnstable Police Chief Paul MacDonald, made the announcement.
