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News
Release Four Indicted in International Cocaine Sting AUG 11 - Boston, MA... Four Brooklyn residents were indicted on federal drug charges today. The four were arrested in June of this year in East Boston in connection with an undercover sting after having allegedly paid $200,000 for over 100 kilograms of cocaine smuggled by boat from Guyana, South America. Boston, MA... Four Brooklyn residents were indicted on federal drug charges today. The four were arrested in June of this year in East Boston in connection with an undercover sting after having allegedly paid $200,000 for over 100 kilograms of cocaine smuggled by boat from Guyana, South America. Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; Robin M. Avers, Special Agent in Charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Rear Admiral David P. Pekoske, Commander of the U. S. Coast Guard, First District; William J. Schenkelberg, Special Agent in Charge of the U. S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Northeast Region; Joseph Carter, Chief of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Department; Colonel Thomas G. Robbins, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Kathleen O’Toole, Commissioner of the Boston Police Department, announced today that the following individuals were named in a four- count indictment:
ALLEN is charged with conspiring with others to import cocaine into the United States. ALLEN, GREEN and PAGE are charged with conspiring to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine. All four defendants are charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Lastly, PERRY is also charged with misprision of a felony. According to the indictment, previously filed documents, and testimony given in court, it is alleged that a cooperating witness was approached in early 2004 about becoming involved in a scheme to smuggle over 100 kilograms of cocaine from Guyana to Massachusetts. It is alleged that the cocaine was ultimately intended for distribution in the New York City area. In midMarch, 2004, ALLEN drove up from New York City, met with an undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) agent and gave him $15,000 in cash to cover the expenses of sailing to South America to pick up the cocaine. On May 4, 2004, the ICE undercover agent was given 105 kilograms of cocaine on a boat in international waters off the shore of Suriname, South America. It is alleged that the cocaine had originated with international drug smugglers in Guyana which borders Suriname. It is alleged that the shipment of cocaine was to be delivered by boat to ALLEN in Massachusetts and then transported to New York City for distribution there. It is alleged that ALLEN is a supervisor of a thriving cocaine business being conducted in Brooklyn, New York and that ALLEN is engaged on a daily basis in the distribution of large quantities of cocaine to various customers. It is alleged that on Saturday, June 5, ALLEN, GREEN, PAGE and PERRY drove from New York to Massachusetts in two separate vehicles, met with the undercover ICE agent at the Prudential Center in Boston and then drove followed the agent to a warehouse at a marina in East Boston. It is alleged that ALLEN then paid $200,000 in cash to the undercover agent for the delivery of the cocaine, believing that it had just arrived in the area by boat from Suriname. It is alleged that ALLEN and GREEN then loaded the cocaine into one of their vehicles in preparation for driving it to New York. The four defendants were immediately arrested by federal agents. “ The U. S. Attorney’s Office along with its partners in law enforcement is working hard to keep America’s borders safe, not only from terror but from large scale drug smuggling as well,” stated U. S. Attorney Sullivan. “We will continue to do all in our power to stop the illegal importation of drugs into the United States and to eradicate organized drug activity.” “ This case is an example of the outstanding cooperation that ICE maintains with other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies,” stated ICE Special Agent in Charge Avers. “As a result of this unified approach, we are more effectively targeting drug trafficking organizations and other criminals that seek to exploit our nation’s borders and threaten public safety in our communities.” Following their arrests in June, U. S. Magistrate Judge Charles B. Swartwood, III ordered that ALLEN, GREEN and PAGE remain in the custody of the U. S. Marshals pending trial. PERRY was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond. A court date will be set for the defendants’ arraignments. Since the amount of cocaine involved is in excess of 5 kilograms, each of the drug charges carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life, to be followed by at least 5 years of supervised release and a fine up to $4 million. In addition, the misprision of a felony with which PERRY is charged carries a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. The government is also seeking the forfeiture of the $215,000 in U. S. currency paid by ALLEN to the undercover agent. The on- going investigation is being conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement with assistance from the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the U. S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Massachusetts State Police, the Boston Police Department and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Michael Pelgro, Chief of Sullivan’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit and Assistant U. S. Attorney David Tobin of Sullivan’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit.
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