Heath Street Gang Member Van Rader Sentenced for Drug Trafficking

BOSTON – The grimy streets of Boston were hit with a decisive blow as Michael Van Rader, 24, a known associate of the Heath Street Gang, was sentenced to over two years in federal prison for drug trafficking. Van Rader’s sentence includes 22 months behind bars followed by six years of supervised release.

Yesterday, U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper handed down the verdict after Van Rader pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine within a public housing development, specifically within 1,000 feet of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in Jamaica Plain.

The arrest occurred on September 3, 2023, when law enforcement officers swooped into the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, where they found Van Rader in possession of a significant quantity of cocaine. The grim news came as no surprise to many, as Van Rader was already barred from the housing complex by the Boston Housing Authority and was on probation for a state firearm-related conviction.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox were quick to announce the sentencing. The investigation was a collaborative effort, supported by the Boston Housing Authority Police Department and the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which has been instrumental in dismantling major drug trafficking organizations. OCDETF’s multi-agency approach ensures a coordinated effort to identify and dismantle high-level criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States.

For more information on the OCDETF Program, visit https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf.

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