Malden Resident Tied To Drug Trafficking Organization: Feds

MALDEN, MA — A Chinese national living in Malden is among eight people charged in an investigation into a Boston-based fentanyl and cocaine trafficking and money laundering organization with ties to Mexico, federal authorities said.

Chi Ying was charged with conspiracy to launder money, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Ying and Songfeng Chen, a Chinese national living in Quincy, are accused of laundering money on behalf of a Mexican drug trafficking organization.

Six others were charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine and conspiracy to launder money following a year-long wiretap investigation:

1. Cesar Alejandro Castro Pujols, a Dominican national living in Milton
2. Andre Heraux Martinez, a Dominican national living in Hyde Park
3. Fermin Castillo, living in Mexico
4. Saturnino Guerrero, a Dominican national living in Roxbury, Mass
5. Kevin Carmona Victorino, of Dorchester, Mass.
6. Kevin Hayes, of Centerville, Mass.

"All eyes have been on the COVID pandemic, but the opioid epidemic continues to kill thousands of people in Massachusetts each year," Acting U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Mendell said in a statement. "Prosecuting drug traffickers who profit off of addiction and desperation is essential to save lives, protect the vulnerable and make communities safer."

According to the criminal complaint, investigators intercepted phone conversations between members of a drug cell that was supplied large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine by a Mexican trafficking organization, the USAO said. Castro, the leader of the group, coordinated directly with Mexico-based suppliers to receive and deal drugs and launder the money, federal authorities said.

Castro supplied fentanyl and cocaine to Guerrero, who dealt those drugs to his own customer base, the USAO said. Federal authorities said Chin and Ying worked for money laundering groups that laundered drug profits on behalf of the Mexican organization.

On March 23, investigators seized approximately 17 kilograms of fentanyl, about $220,000 in U.S. currency and three vehicles, including a Porsche, while executing search warrants in Boston, Malden, Quincy, Milton and Centerville, the USAO said.

Eighteen additional defendants involved in this operation were charged with drug trafficking offenses last August. To date, the investigation has resulted in charges against 26 people and the seizure of 55.5 kilograms of fentanyl, 24 kilograms of cocaine, 500 fentanyl pills and approximately $1,470,000 in cash and real assets, the USAO said.

"This case disrupted a Boston-based drug trafficking organization with direct ties to a Mexican cartel that allegedly distributed dangerous drugs like fentanyl and cocaine in our communities and conspired to launder their proceeds in an effort to conceal what they were doing," said Joseph Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. "Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong partnerships among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and the importance of working together to dismantle criminal enterprises that profit from flooding our streets with illicit drugs."