Worcester Woman Among Those Caught in Massive Cocaine Ring
BOSTON – A Connecticut woman has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release for her role in a federal drug conspiracy.
Melissa Rock, 40, of Woodstock, Conn., formerly of Pemaquid, Maine, pleaded guilty in May 2018 to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and cocaine. However, court documents show she was specifically involved in the distribution of cocaine.
According to prosecutors, a court-authorized wiretap intercepted Rock and another defendant, Thomas Walker, speaking about purchasing cocaine for re-distribution in Maine. The investigation found that Rock and Walker traveled to Worcester, where they were stopped by law enforcement and found with over 50 grams of cocaine.
Rock is among five defendants who were indicted in 2017 for their roles in the conspiracy. The others include Vito Nuzzolilo, of Worcester; Kristin Little, of Worcester; Thomas Walker, of Pemaquid, Maine; and Ricardo Ortega-Vasquez, a Dominican national residing in New York City.
Nuzzolilo has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting further court hearings, while Walker and Ortega-Vasquez have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Little pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months in prison in June 2018.
The investigation into the cocaine ring was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of cocaine trafficking in the region and the importance of law enforcement working together to take down those involved.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office noted that the remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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