Felipe Jonet-Branco, 31, of Brockton, pleaded guilty on Aug. 3 in federal court in Boston to one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and 10 counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy scheduled Jonet-Branco’s sentencing for Nov. 2.
Jonet-Branco was the owner of Banks & Brancos, a clothing store in Brockton that was searched on Feb. 4 as part of an investigation into the Harvard Street Gang. During the search, law enforcement seized 10 firearms, over 35 pounds of marijuana with packaging materials, more than 200 grams of psilocin mushrooms, and over $40,000 in cash from the premises. Eight firearms were found inside a hidden drawer beneath the store’s front counter along with large-capacity magazines and empty bottles of promethazine with codeine; these included a large-caliber rifle and a Glock handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device. Another gun was discovered inside the store’s vending machine, while an additional firearm was located in plain view within a storage room.
Jonet-Branco is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony battery conviction in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Seven members and associates of the Harvard Street Gang were charged earlier this year following searches at various residences and stash locations linked to the group.
The charge for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances carries up to 20 years imprisonment, supervised release for at least three years, and up to a $1 million fine; being a felon in possession of firearms carries up to 15 years imprisonment, supervised release for up to three years, and up to a $250,000 fine. Sentencing will be determined by federal district court based on United States Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble from Massachusetts State Police made the announcement regarding Jonet-Branco’s plea agreement.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts enforces federal laws through prosecutions including national security threats and civil rights violations; advances community initiatives on civil rights and violence prevention; employs over 200 attorneys and staff; maintains facilities at multiple locations across Massachusetts including Boston’s John Joseph Moakley United States Federal Courthouse as well as offices in Springfield and Worcester; serves all residents statewide as part of its role within the Department of Justice, according to its official website.