BOSTON – In a massive blow to the North Shore’s notorious drug trafficking scene, 16 individuals have been charged with distributing tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, federal authorities announced today.
The superseding indictment, returned by a federal grand jury in Boston, includes the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances against defendants Lawrence Michael Nagle, a/k/a “Mikey,” 32, of Saugus, and 15 others.
Nagle, who was initially charged in November 2022, now faces two counts of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition. He also faces three additional counts of possession with the intent to distribute various controlled substances, as well as a money laundering conspiracy charge.
The superseding indictment adds two new co-defendants, Nancy Lopez, 33, of Saugus, and Samuel Saillant, 38, of Lynn, who were charged with money laundering conspiracy.
Lopez was arrested yesterday and released on conditions, while Saillant will make an appearance at a later date. Fourteen of the 16 defendants charged in the superseding indictment were among 23 individuals arrested and charged in October 2022 in connection with the North Shore-based drug trafficking organization.
Eleven defendants have since pleaded guilty. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy praised the efforts of law enforcement agencies, including the DEA, Massachusetts State Police, and local police departments, in dismantling the organization.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which uses a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and dismantle high-level criminal organizations.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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