Edison Klotz, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Massachusetts 2023

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Drug Ring Members Sentenced in Boston

Two members of a nationwide drug trafficking ring were sentenced in federal court in Boston. Edison Klotz, 48, of Stoughton, Mass., and Brian Keleman, 55, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, were handed down prison sentences of 46 months and 60 months, respectively, for their involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.

The investigation, which spanned over a year, revealed that Klotz and Keleman were part of a larger organization that distributed multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine throughout the New England area. In total, investigators seized over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition.

The investigation also led to the dismantling of an illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants. Klotz and Keleman pleaded guilty to various charges, including conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Klotz distributed over 108 grams of pure methamphetamine to a cooperating witness in November 2020. Keleman worked for co-defendant Reshat Alkayisi, who was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker. Alkayisi distributed multi-pound quantities of methamphetamine to distributor customers throughout the New England area.

Klotz and Keleman are the fifth and sixth defendants to be sentenced in this case. All other defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing or have been sentenced. The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.

The OCDETF Program is a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.