⏱ 2 min read
Gino Hem, a 34-year-old Lowell man, pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine in federal court in Boston. Between July 14, 2025, and October 3, 2025, Hem sold the deadly drugs to undercover officers and cooperating witnesses on four separate occasions. The transactions took place in Lowell, where Hem would meet his buyers to exchange cash for ‘fingers’ of ‘brown’ (fentanyl) and quantities of ‘hard’ (crack cocaine).
Hem’s operation was brought down on October 22, 2025, when he arrived at a pre-arranged meeting spot to sell two ounces of crack cocaine to an undercover officer. Instead, he was taken into custody and found to be hiding over 53 grams of cocaine base in his underwear.
The guilty plea puts Hem at risk of facing significant prison time, with sentences ranging from 5 to 40 years for distributing 28 grams or more of cocaine base. He also faces up to 20 years for distributing controlled substances, including fentanyl.
Hem’s sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Boston. The case is a testament to the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat the opioid epidemic and crack down on drug dealers peddling deadly substances in Massachusetts communities.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: crack cocaine
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Drug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug TraffickingDrug Trafficking