Eric Celestino, a member of the Boston-based H Block gang, was sentenced on Mar. 23 to five years in federal prison for his role in a drug conspiracy case. The sentencing took place in federal court in Boston before U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin, with Celestino also receiving three years of supervised release.
Celestino pleaded guilty in December 2025 to charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. His sentencing follows a multi-year investigation into H Block’s activities after an increase in gang-related drug trafficking and violence.
According to court documents, authorities seized over 500 grams of cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and more than 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper during the investigation. Law enforcement linked H Block associates to twelve incidents involving gunfire since the start of the investigation in 2021. Six members were arrested on drug charges across Boston and nearby communities; four others were already held by state authorities at the time.
The H Block Street Gang is described as one of Boston’s most feared gangs, originating as the Humboldt Raiders in Roxbury during the 1980s before re-emerging as H Block in the early 2000s. Members have been involved in violent confrontations with law enforcement over several decades.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced Celestino’s sentence along with officials from multiple agencies involved in supporting the case and its prosecution team from both local and federal offices.
This prosecution is part of a broader initiative under Executive Order 14159 through the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), which coordinates interagency efforts against criminal organizations operating within or impacting U.S. communities.