News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 16, 2003

Two Cape Residents Arrested on Federal Drug Charges

JUN 19--Boston, MA….Two Cape Cod men were arrested on the evening of Thursday, June 12, 2003, on federal drug charges.

Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and United State Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, announced that Darren DRISCOLL, age 33, of Bourne, Massachusetts, and Jonathan CHANDLER, age 28, of East Wareham, Massachusetts, were charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute marijuana.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, on June 10, 2003 the Utah Highway Patrol stopped a man, Robert Lynch, for speeding. A search of the rental van that Lynch was driving resulted in the discovery of several garbage bags filled with marijuana, approximately 80 kilograms in total, with an estimated street value of approximately $200,000. It is alleged that Lynch was driving the marijuana from California to Wareham, Massachusetts to deliver it to DRISCOLL and CHANDLER. Lynch agreed to cooperate with law enforcement and a controlled delivery was arranged. On June 12, 2003, under law enforcement supervision, Lynch contacted DRISCOLL and CHANDLER to tell them he was in Massachusetts with the marijuana. DRISCOLL and CHANDLER were arrested after accepting delivery of the marijuana

Following the arrests, a Massachusetts State Search Warrant was executed at a residence in New Bedford Massachusetts where approximately $100,000 dollars was seized.

Both defendants appeared Friday, June 13, 2003, in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler. CHANDLER was released on a $10,000 unsecured bond. DRISCOLL is being held in federal custody pending a detention hearing scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, 2003 at 11:30 am. If convicted, each of the defendants faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

This case was investigated by the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration's Cape Cod Task Force, the DEA New Bedford Resident Office, the DEA Salt Lake City Office, the Utah Highway Patrol and the Massachusetts State Police.

Press Contact S/A Anthony Pettigrew, 617-557-2138