Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A Southbridge man, Ismael Maysonet, has been found guilty by a federal jury for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that distributed cocaine and fentanyl across the North Shore and Central Massachusetts. Maysonet, aged 40, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman has set sentencing for June 4, 2025.
Maysonet was charged in September 2022 alongside 21 other co-conspirators. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated, "Ismael Maysonet was a member of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that pumped fentanyl and cocaine into the communities of Massachusetts." She emphasized the commitment to prosecuting drug traffickers who exploit vulnerable individuals.
Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Field Division, remarked on the dangers posed by distributing fentanyl and cocaine: “Those who choose to distribute fentanyl and cocaine endanger their customers as well as the general public.”
Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, noted that postal inspectors are determined to prevent the U.S. Postal Service from being used to distribute illegal narcotics: “Let today’s verdict serve as a reminder that postal inspectors...remain steadfast in our resolve to combat the flow of illicit drugs impacting our communities.”
The investigation revealed that between August 2021 and August 2022, Maysonet was part of a DTO based in Southbridge. This organization distributed drugs under the leadership of Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez. The DTO utilized U.S. mail services for trafficking activities, receiving packages containing cocaine from Puerto Rico and sending packages with fentanyl to Florida.
During surveillance operations, Maysonet was observed collecting packages known to contain drugs. Intercepted communications recorded him discussing various aspects of drug trafficking operations including packaging strategies for mailing drugs.
Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez have both pleaded guilty earlier this month and will be sentenced later this year.
The charge against Maysonet carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment along with supervised release terms and potential fines reaching $10 million.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations through collaborative efforts among multiple agencies.
