A Saugus man has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to trafficking methamphetamine disguised as prescription medication, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.
Marcus Holder, also known as “Heartless,” age 30, entered his plea on two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for December 11, 2025.
Authorities say Holder was a member of the Asian Boyz gang and participated in a drug network involving other members and associates. The group distributed homemade pills that resembled Adderall but were actually made from methamphetamine and caffeine. In September and October 2022, Holder delivered 1,000 pills marked as “Adderall” to fellow gang member Bill Phim, also known as “Bonez,” who then sold them to an undercover officer. Chemical analysis later confirmed that the pills did not contain Adderall.
Bill Phim was sentenced in May 2025 to ten years in prison followed by five years of supervised release.
The offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and up to forty years, at least four years and up to life on supervised release, and a possible fine of up to $5 million.
“U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Superintendent Gregory C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement.”
Support for the investigation came from multiple law enforcement agencies including Massachusetts State Police and police departments from Billerica, Haverhill, North Andover, and Salem. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak III is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that coordinates law enforcement efforts with community groups to reduce violent crime and improve neighborhood safety nationwide. The Department of Justice launched an updated strategy for PSN in May 2021 focusing on trust-building with communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and tracking outcomes. More information about PSN can be found at https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
The case is also linked to an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation—a federal initiative aimed at dismantling major criminal organizations through coordinated investigations among various agencies using intelligence-driven strategies. Details about OCDETF are available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
