Six individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on Apr. 15 for allegedly participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved shipping packages containing kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl from California to Massachusetts.
The indictment alleges that the group sent more than 260 UPS packages from California to various addresses in Massachusetts, with several seized packages found to contain about 12 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl. Authorities say the drugs were intended for further distribution within Massachusetts.
Those charged include Edwal Vargas, also known as “Max,” Yanivel Gomez, also known as “Ashley,” George Salvatore Landingham, Stephanie Tejeda, Tyrone Shepherd, and Gustavo Tavares. The charges range from conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances carries a minimum sentence of ten years in prison and up to $10 million in fines. Money laundering conspiracy is punishable by up to twenty years in prison and a fine up to $500,000. Sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the indictments along with officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Nathaniel Yeager is prosecuting the case.
The investigation was conducted as part of Operation Take Back America under the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), which coordinates efforts among multiple agencies against cartels and transnational criminal organizations.
Officials remind that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.