Three individuals have entered guilty pleas in a federal court in Boston, acknowledging their involvement with a drug trafficking organization (DTO) in the North Shore area. The organization was responsible for distributing large quantities of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as laundering the criminal proceeds.
Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr., aged 34 and residing in Saugus, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine. He also pleaded guilty to several possession charges, firearm-related offenses, and money laundering conspiracy. His sentencing is set for August 5, 2025, as announced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV.
Gino Castillo, a 34-year-old from Salem, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. His sentencing is scheduled for July 8, 2025.
Samuel Saillant, aged 38 of Lynn, admitted to conspiring to commit money laundering and is set to be sentenced on July 11, 2025.
The aforementioned individuals were part of a larger group of 27 people charged in connection with this conspiracy, beginning in October 2022. All defendants have since entered guilty pleas.
The DTO, spearheaded by Lawrence Nagle, Jr. and his brother Christopher Nagle, distributed counterfeit pills, specifically containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, around Lynn. In early 2022, law enforcement recovered a significant quantity of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine from a search of Christopher Nagle's residence. Another search in October 2022 led to the discovery of a considerable amount of drugs and firearms at Lawrence Nagle, Jr.'s properties.
Nagle, Jr. acquired his Saugus home using illegal drug proceeds in August 2020, with Saillant serving as his real estate agent. Both Nagle, Jr. and Saillant, along with another accomplice, used money orders and cashier's checks obtained from drug proceeds to finance the property.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, alongside officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Massachusetts State Police, announced the pleas. Local police departments also provided critical support during the investigation, which was prosecuted by several Assistant U.S. Attorneys.
This case forms part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal enterprises in the United States.
Further details about OCDETF are available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
