Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
James Adams, also known as "Jimmy," was sentenced on March 23 in federal court in Boston to more than 12 years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute crystal methamphetamine.
Adams, age 43 and from Byfield, received a sentence of 151 months from U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV. He will also serve five years of supervised release following his prison term. In December 2025, Adams pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute at least 50 grams of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy related to the same drug amount.
Authorities said Adams was among four people charged in connection with a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking ring operated by members and associates of the Unknown Bikers Motorcycle Club across Eastern Massachusetts. Law enforcement began investigating the operation around October 2023 after receiving information about significant drug trafficking activity in the region.
Over several months, investigators identified Adams as a distributor who supplied methamphetamine throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Controlled purchases were made from Adams and co-conspirators James Snow of Tewksbury, Danielle Steenbruggen of Peabody, and Daniel Loughman of Wakefield. The investigation led to the seizure of approximately ten pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms through controlled buys, vehicle stops, and search warrants.
Adams is the second defendant sentenced in this case. Steenbruggen pleaded guilty in August 2025 and was sentenced that November to over seven years in prison. Snow pleaded guilty on December 1, 2025, with sentencing scheduled for March 23, while Loughman pleaded guilty on December 2 with sentencing set for April 1.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley along with officials from multiple law enforcement agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; Drug Enforcement Administration; United States Postal Inspection Service; Massachusetts State Police; Wakefield Police Department; as well as assistance from other local police departments.
