A Quincy resident, Caesar Ross, was sentenced in federal court in Boston for firearms trafficking and fentanyl distribution. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV sentenced Ross, 41, to 90 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. In July 2024, Ross pleaded guilty to one count of firearms trafficking and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
According to court records, over a three-month period in 2020, Ross obtained 23 firearms with removed serial numbers from an individual in Florida through at least four separate transactions. In exchange for the firearms, Ross provided fentanyl and specifically requested that the serial numbers be obliterated. He and his associates then distributed these weapons to individuals who were not legally permitted to possess them in Massachusetts.
Authorities have recovered at least five of these firearms in Boston-area incidents involving felons and gang members, including locations where shots were fired or armed assaults occurred. The remaining weapons have not yet been located.
Ross was arrested in September 2023 after giving a cooperating witness about 60 grams of fentanyl in exchange for four firearms lacking visible serial numbers.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Feld Division made the announcement today.” She also acknowledged assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division and the Quincy Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum prosecuted the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence by fostering cooperation among law enforcement agencies and community organizations. The program’s strategy focuses on building trust within communities, supporting local groups working on violence prevention, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and tracking results (https://www.justice.gov/psn).
