Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
An associate of the Asian Boyz gang from Lowell was convicted by a federal jury for his involvement in distributing large quantities of homemade methamphetamine pills that were falsely marketed as Adderall. Richard Nguyen, also known as “Cheese” and “Cheeseburger,” 30, was found guilty on two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count involving 50 grams or more. The verdict followed a five-day trial in Boston. Sentencing is set for February 26, 2026.
Nguyen was arrested and charged in January 2025 after an investigation that began in 2021 aimed at disrupting the Asian Boyz gang’s methamphetamine pill operations in Lowell. Authorities said Nguyen was part of a network selling thousands of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine between March 2022 and January 2025. Law enforcement officers conducted undercover purchases on 47 occasions during this period.
At trial, evidence showed that Nguyen sold counterfeit Adderall pills to a cooperating witness at least three times between January and April 2024. Each transaction took place at Nguyen’s home on a back porch accessible only through a narrow alleyway. He communicated with the witness using an Instagram account named “Cheese.” During negotiations, Nguyen told the witness he could sell the pills for $0.80 each because he obtained them for $0.70 each, saying he had to “make [his] dollar.” In the first deal, about 1,000 pills were sold; subsequent deals involved approximately 2,000 pills each.
The charges against Nguyen carry significant penalties under federal law. Distribution and possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine is punishable by at least ten years up to life imprisonment, supervised release for five years to life, and fines up to $10 million. Possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams carries at least five years up to forty years in prison, four years up to life supervised release, and fines up to $5 million. Sentences are determined by federal judges according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: "United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Superintendent Greg C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today." Additional support came from Massachusetts State Police and several local police departments.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak III and Brendan D. O’Shea are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which brings together law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime through collaboration and strategic enforcement priorities (https://www.justice.gov/PSN).
The investigation was conducted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which targets high-level criminal organizations using coordinated efforts among multiple agencies (Justice.gov/OCDETF).
