BOSTON – A Salem man is headed to federal prison after admitting his role in a North Shore drug trafficking organization that flooded the streets with tens of thousands of dangerous counterfeit prescription pills. Gino Castillo, 35, was sentenced yesterday to 37 months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV.
Castillo pleaded guilty in April 2025 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. He was one of 27 individuals snared in a sprawling investigation launched in October 2022, all connected to the distribution of illicit, often deadly, counterfeit pills. As of today, all 27 have confessed, with 22 already receiving their sentences.
The Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) targeted the Lynn area, pushing counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine. Evidence revealed Castillo himself purchased 500 fentanyl-laced pills from the DTO in May 2022, intending to further distribute them. His involvement deepened in October 2022 when he was observed assisting Lawrence Michael Nagle Jr., a leader within the organization, with moving into a Salem apartment that served as a drug storage location.
A subsequent search of the Phillips Street apartment on October 25, 2022, yielded a disturbing stash: counterfeit pills hidden inside a bedroom safe and, shockingly, concealed within the tank of a toilet. This wasn’t a small-time operation; the DTO was clearly attempting to move significant quantities of dangerous narcotics. Nagle Jr. also pleaded guilty in April 2025 and awaits sentencing on August 5, 2025.
“This sentencing demonstrates our commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations and holding accountable those who profit from the distribution of deadly substances,” stated United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Massachusetts State Police Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble echoed this sentiment, highlighting the collaborative effort of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Beverly, Everett, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys K. Nathaniel Yeager, Samuel R. Feldman, John O. Wray and Alexandra Amrhein of the Criminal Division. This investigation was conducted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, a multi-agency initiative designed to dismantle the most dangerous criminal organizations operating within the United States. More information on OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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