BOSTON - A Medford man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for distributing oxycodone throughout the North Shore.
Paul Williams, 54, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge George A. O’Toole Jr. to three years in prison and three years of supervised release. In March 2017, Williams pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute oxycodone.
In March 2014, 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. Paul Williams, along with co-defendants Anthony Panarese and Jarod Presterone supplied Romano with oxycodone. On roughly a weekly basis, Romano contacted each of the suppliers separately to arrange meetings to obtain pills for redistribution. Co-defendant Eric Vaughn assisted Panarese in distributing Oxycodone pills. Through the conspiracy, Romano distributed more than 5,000 30 mg. Oxycodone pills.
In May 2015, Romano advised co-defendant Ashley Turner that he was going on vacation and asked that she distribute Oxycodone pills for him while he was away. Romano explained that Ashley Turner would need to get the pills to distribute from Paul Williams. Ashley Turner agreed to the arrangement and distributed pills on Romano’s behalf. Ashley’s father, David Turner Sr., served as a liaison and obtained pills from Paul Williams for Ashley Turner to distribute.
During an August 2017 search of William’s home, agents seized 400 30 mg. Oxycodone pills and approximately $23,350. In total, Williams was held accountable for the distribution of 1,678 Oxycodone 30 mg. pills.
Eight of the nine defendants have been sentenced. Romano was sentenced to four years in prison; Panarese was sentenced to 46 months in prison; Vaughn was sentenced to two years in prison; Marcelle Milbury was sentenced to one year in prison; David Turner Sr. was sentenced to five years of probation; Ashley Turner, who graduated from the Court-sponsored RISE program, was sentenced to four years of probation with a six-month curfew; and Sans Milbury, who also graduated from the Court-sponsored RISE program, was sentenced to three years of probation. Co-defendant Presterone has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Office; Colonel Kerry Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Danvers Police Chief Patrick M. Ambrose made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
