U.S. Department of Labor OIG, Heath Street Gang Members and Associates Charged in Federal Sweep (USAO D-MA 02/14/2024) (2024-02-15)

Summary

A press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts, dated Wednesday, February 14, 2024, announcing federal charges in Boston against members and associates of the Heath Street Gang, whose number the release puts at over 40, for racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking, firearms, wire fraud and financial frauds, including COVID fraud. According to the charging documents, the gang operates primarily out of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain and is alleged to be involved in shootings, drug distribution and organized retail theft. The release states that members and associates allegedly engaged in widespread CARES Act loan and unemployment fraud. An appendix lists each defendant and charge, including wire fraud charges against Riccara McKinney, Rachel McKinney, Teshawnda Knight and Antawn Davis.

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PRESS RELEASE



Heath Street Gang Members and
Associates Charged in Federal
Sweep
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – Over 40 members and associates of the Heath Street Gang in Boston were
charged today in federal court in Boston with racketeering conspiracy; drug trafficking;
firearms; wire fraud; and financial frauds, including COVID fraud, following a two-year
investigation into gang violence in Boston.

According to the charging documents, the Heath Street Gang operates primarily out of
the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments (previously known as the Bromley Heath Housing
Development), a public housing development located in Jamaica Plain. It is one of the
largest housing developments in the greater Boston area.

Formed in the 1980s, it is alleged that the Heath Street Gang is comprised of over 150
members and has historically been involved in acts of violence to preserve and protect
the Gang’s power, territory and reputation. According to the charging documents, in
furtherance of the racketeering conspiracy, members/associates are implicated in a
number of murders, attempted murders and shootings – many of which targeted rival
gang members/associates of other Boston-based street gangs, particularly the Mission
Hill Gang and the H-Block Gang. This allegedly includes an October 2016 shooting
targeting rivals in the Mission Hill Gang’s territory, in which a nine-year-old female
victim was shot and severely injured, as well as a June 2021 murder allegedly committed
by a juvenile Heath Street member/associate in Mission Hill Gang territory.

It is alleged that the Heath Street Gang commonly recruits juveniles living in the Mildred
C. Hailey Apartments to join the Gang and participate in crimes on the Gang’s behalf,
including shootings. It is further alleged that members of the Heath Street Gang require
younger prospective members/associates to commit acts of violence as an act of
initiation and often reward the juveniles with appearances in Heath Street Gang songs
or music videos, which are used to publicly assert and affirm Gang
membership/association, brag about acts of violence they have committed and
denigrate and threaten rival gangs. On numerous occasions, members/associates of the
Heath Street Gang have allegedly brazenly assaulted local law enforcement officers
while engaged in official duties.

According to the charging documents, Heath Street Gang members/associates have
used the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments as a point for drug trafficking activities and, over
a period of multiple years, have worked together to establish drug distribution networks
throughout Massachusetts, Maine and California. Heath Street members/associates
often use social media platforms to facilitate the distribution of controlled substances
including fentanyl, fentanyl pills, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana – specifically using
social media posts to advertise, negotiate and arrange drug sales.

It is further alleged that the Heath Street Gang engages in a number of financial and
theft crimes. This includes an organized retail theft group that, since at least
approximately 2019, has allegedly openly and brazenly stolen merchandise from various
stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Additionally, it is alleged that
members/associates of the Heath Street Gang have engaged in widespread CARES Act
loan and unemployment fraud.

The charge of RICO conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three
years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of conspiracy to
distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute controlled
substances each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of
supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of being a felon in
possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years or 15
years (for offenses committed after June 25, 2022) in prison, three years of supervised
release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of firearm in furtherance
of violent or drug trafficking crime provides for a mandatory consecutive sentence of
five years in prison up to life, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to
$250,000. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act
conspiracy) provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised
release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of
up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000,
or twice the gross gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greater. Sentences are
imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and
statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox;
James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
& Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for
Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent in
Charge of Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General; and Harry T. Chavis Jr,
Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigations made
the announcement today. The investigation was supported by the Boston Housing
Authority Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Marshals Service; Suffolk
County Sheriff’s Office; and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. Valuable assistance
was provided by the New England State Police Information Network; U.S. Department of
Agriculture; U.S. Secret Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Maine Drug Enforcement
Agency; and the Quincy, Randolph and Lincoln Police Departments. Assistant U.S.
Attorneys Michael Crowley, Sarah Hoefle and Lucy Sun of the Organized Crime & Gang
Unit are prosecuting the cases.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF)
operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal
organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven,
multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be
found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court
of law.

                                           ###

                                      APPENDIX A

   1. Jaquori Lyons, a/k/a “Gizzle,” a/k/a “Y Gizzle,” 25, of Jamaica Plain, is charged with
      RICO conspiracy;
   2. Joan Avalo-Quezada, a/k/a “Trouble,” 26, of Hyde Park, is charged with RICO
      conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute
      controlled substances;
   3. Trevon Bell, a/k/a “Moula,” 27, of Roslindale, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
   4. Keonte Campbell, a/k/a “Keko,” 28, of Hyde Park, is charged with RICO
      conspiracy;
   5. Amos Carrasquillo, a/k/a “Cruddy,” 35, of Mattapan, is charged with RICO
      conspiracy;
   6. Deshawn Cirino, a/k/a “D,” a/k/a “Lil D,” 26, of Boston, is charged with RICO
      conspiracy;
   7. Dominique Finch, a/k/a “Heff,” 34, of Boston, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
   8. Zion Ford, a/k/a “Bricks,” 24, of Hyde Park, is charged with RICO conspiracy;
9. Tyrre Herring, a/k/a “Blick,” a/k/a “Smoov,” 26, of Billerica, is charged with RICO
    conspiracy;
10. De’vonne Mcdonald-Jones, a/k/a “Daedae,” a/k/a “D Jones,” 27, of Roslindale, is
    charged with RICO conspiracy;
11. Rickquille Mckinney, a/k/a “Ricky Mazarati,” a/k/a “Mozzy,” 30, of Arlington, is
    charged with RICO conspiracy;
12. Amani Perkins, a/k/a “Chop,” a/k/a “Choppa,” 25, of Mattapan, is charged with
    RICO conspiracy;
13. Michael Riley, a/k/a “Snyda,” a/k/a “Sneed,” 46, of Malden, is charged with RICO
    conspiracy;
14. Keyon Roberson, a/k/a “Beano,” 23, of Dorchester, is charged with RICO
    conspiracy;
15. Randy Diaz-Pizarro, 32, of Central Falls, R.I., is charged with possession with intent
    to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition;
16. Bryon Palmer, 36, of Charlestown, is charged with being a felon in possession of
    ammunition and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl;
17. Rolando Coxon, 31, of Hyde Park, is charged with two counts of distribution of
    fentanyl;
18. Cerone Davis, 30, of Arlington, is charged with possession with intent to
    distribute controlled substances within 1,000 feet of a public housing facility;
19. Donte Daily, 33, of Jamaica Plain, is charged with being a felon in possession of
    firearm and ammunition;
20. Theodore Gamble-Williams, 39, of Jamaica Plain, is charged with possession with
    intent to distribute controlled substances;
21. Jameel Gibbons, 39, of Roslindale, is charged with possession with intent to
    distribute controlled substances;
22. Charles Bomman, 33, of Roxbury, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and
    possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
23. Deondre Blanding, 27, of Roslindale, is charged with possession of firearm in
    furtherance of violent or drug trafficking crime;
24. Gelson Rodrigues, 33, of Randolph, is charged with possession of firearm in
    furtherance of violent or drug trafficking crime;
25. Riccara McKinney, 28, of Roxbury, is charged with conspiracy to interfere with
    commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and wire fraud;
26. Rachel McKinney, 32, of Arlington, is charged with conspiracy to interfere with
    commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act conspiracy) and wire fraud;
27. Teshawnda Knight, 41, of Hyde Park, is charged with wire fraud;
28. Antawn Davis, 39, of Boston, is charged with wire fraud;
29. Taisha Garcia, 27, of Lynn, is charged with wire fraud;
30. Dawan Searcy, 32, of Somerville, is charged with wire fraud;
   31. Nathan Bootman, 26, of Randolph, is charged with wire fraud;
   32. Jameela Gross, 27, of Jamaica Plain, is charged with wire fraud;
   33. Robert Platt, 44, of Brockton, is charged with wire fraud;
   34. Donovan Scarlett, 25, of West Roxbury, is charged with wire fraud;
   35. David Avalo, 28, of Hyde Park, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and
       possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
   36. Victor Pimentel, 27, of Brockton, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and
       possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
   37. Amanda LaPointe, 39, of Ripley, Maine, is charged with conspiracy to distribute
       and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
   38. Krystin Mathewson, 38, of Enfield, Conn., is charged with conspiracy to distribute
       and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
   39. Jacob Lyford, 32, of Milo, Maine, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and
       possess with intent to distribute controlled substances;
   40. Michael St. Pierre, 54, of Dedham, Maine, is charged with conspiracy to distribute
       and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; and
   41. Kayla Tasker, 31, of Dexter, Maine, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and
       possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Updated February 15, 2024

Topics
CORONAVIRUS

DRUG TRAFFICKING

FINANCIAL FRAUD

FIREARMS OFFENSES

VIOLENT CRIME


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