Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Two brothers from Lynn, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to coordinating the distribution of cocaine, counterfeit pills, and other controlled substances in the North Shore area. Meliek Bennett, 29, and Maurice Bennett, 38, entered their pleas before U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy. Sentencing is scheduled for November 3, 2025.
Authorities arrested and charged the Bennetts in May 2025. According to investigators, Maurice Bennett is a member of the Bloods street gang in Lynn and has previous convictions related to firearms and violent crimes. Law enforcement intercepted text messages between the brothers that revealed they coordinated drug sales involving cocaine, prescription medication, counterfeit pills, and marijuana. The communications also included discussions about sharing customers and supplies, settling drug debts, and planning a trip to New Hampshire to sell drugs.
In September 2024, officials obtained a recorded conversation in which Meliek Bennett discussed plans to use a silenced pistol against a drug supplier following an altercation over unpaid debts. Shortly after this conversation was recorded, police executed a search warrant at Meliek’s residence in Lynn. They found fentanyl tablets, oxycodone, gabapentin, marijuana, as well as a .22 caliber pistol with a threaded barrel and ammunition.
The charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession with intent to distribute carry potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison along with at least three years of supervised release and fines up to $1 million. Sentences will be determined by federal guidelines.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police and Massachusetts Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.”
