BOSTON – Nathan Pinho, 28, of Taunton, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today for orchestrating a heroin distribution ring even while behind bars. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns handed down a 57-month sentence, followed by three years of supervised release, for the brazen operation.
Pinho initially pleaded guilty in October 2016 to conspiracy to distribute heroin, a charge stemming from a case that began to unravel in August 2015. At that time, Pinho was arrested on state firearm and drug charges – and accused of a violent shooting, firing six times at victims from a vehicle in Taunton. But even that arrest didn’t stop his criminal enterprise.
Authorities say Pinho didn’t miss a beat. While incarcerated, he began directing his girlfriend, Adrianna Gerardi, through handwritten letters, to continue his drug dealing. The letters detailed every aspect of the operation: where to source the heroin, how much to pay, how to cut the product to maximize profits, and the street price. He even expressed gratitude to his supplier, Adilson Teixeira, for their continued partnership.
Those letters became the key to cracking the case wide open. Intercepted by investigators, they sparked an undercover operation. Between December 2015 and January 2016, an undercover officer successfully purchased heroin from Gerardi on five separate occasions. The culmination of the investigation led to the arrests of Pinho, Gerardi, and Teixeira on federal drug conspiracy charges in April 2016.
The co-conspirators also faced justice. Gerardi pleaded guilty and received two years of probation, to begin after completing a separate state sentence. Teixeira, Pinho’s supplier, received 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release. The case highlights the lengths to which criminals will go to continue their illicit activities, even from within the confines of jail.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division, announced the sentencing. They praised the collaborative efforts of the Taunton and Fall River Police Departments, which provided crucial assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Heinrich of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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