BOSTON - A Peabody man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for distributing oxycodone throughout the North Shore area.
Eric Vaughn, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2017, Vaughn pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone.
In March 2014, federal investigators began tracking the activities of Joseph Romano and eight co-defendants. Through surveillance and a cooperating source, investigators were able to make controlled purchases of oxycodone from Romano and his associates. Co-defendants Anthony Panarese, Jarod Presterone and Paul Williams were oxycodone suppliers, and on roughly a weekly basis, Romano contacted each of them separately to arrange meetings to obtain oxycodone pills for redistribution.
In July 2015, Panarese learned that law enforcement officers were conducting surveillance of his residence. As a result, Panarese moved his oxycodone supply to Vaughn’s residence and, thereafter, Vaughn distributed oxycodone on Panarese’s behalf.
Romano was sentenced to four years in prison; Panarese was sentenced to 46 months in prison; Marcelle Milbury was sentenced to one year in prison; and Sans Milbury, who completed the Court-sponsored RISE program, was sentenced to three-years of probation. Co-defendants Presterone, Ashley Turner, David Turner Sr., and Williams have all pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Office; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Chief Patrick M. Ambrose of the Danvers Police Department made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
