Swampscott Woman, Lynn Man Sentenced on Drug Charges

SALEM, MA - A Swampscott woman and a Lynn man were sentenced to state prison for their connection with a cocaine ring, according to Attorney General Maura Healey's office.

In a press release, Healy's office said Melkis Pena, age 54, of Swampscott, pleaded guilty to trafficking more than 100 grams of cocaine and money laundering in Essex Superior Court.

Following the plea, Judge Thomas Dreschler sentenced her eight to ten years in state prison for the trafficking charge concurrent with five to six years in state prison for the money laundering charge.

Jonathan Sosa, age 31, of Lynn, pleaded guilty to Trafficking More than 36 grams of Cocaine and Trafficking more than 36 grams of Heroin (one count each).

Sosa was sentenced to five to seven years in state prison.

The charges stem from a March 2016 joint operation involving Massachusetts State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team (CINRET), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Swampscott and Lynn Police Departments.

According to Healy's office, in December 2014, authorities from the State Police CINRET began an investigation into an alleged drug trafficking operation on the North Shore that they believed was responsible for distributing heroin and cocaine to and within Massachusetts.

During the course of the investigation, authorities seized a large bag containing $300,000 in cash after they observed Pena handing it over to a truck driver in a parking lot in Saugus.

Authorities arrested the three defendants in Lynn after observing what they believed to be a drug transaction occurring in a car. During the arrest, authorities seized approximately 10 kilograms of cocaine from the car linked to Pena. Authorities seized more than 630 grams of cocaine and about 300 grams of heroin after search warrants were executed on the car and an apartment linked to Sosa. Authorities also seized $15,000 in cash and supplies and materials known to be associated with drug packaging and distribution.

The case against Gerson Ceballos-Rosario is ongoing.