Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Six individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on Apr. 15 for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking conspiracy that included shipping packages containing kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl from California to Massachusetts.
The indictment alleges that more than 260 UPS packages were sent from California to various addresses in Massachusetts as part of the conspiracy. Several of these packages were reportedly seized during the investigation, with authorities finding approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine and one kilogram of fentanyl inside.
The defendants include Edwal Vargas, also known as “Max,” Yanivel Gomez, also known as “Ashley,” George Salvatore Landingham, Stephanie Tejeda, Tyrone Shepherd, and Gustavo Tavares. Charges range from conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering conspiracy to possession with intent to distribute large quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison, five years supervised release, and up to $10 million in fines. The money laundering charge provides for up to twenty years imprisonment. Sentences will be determined by a federal district court judge based on sentencing guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the indictments along with Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division; and Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge at the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney K. Nathaniel Yeager is prosecuting the case.
This case was investigated by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force under Operation Take Back America—a federal initiative designed to combat illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations through coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies.
Authorities emphasized that all details contained within charging documents are allegations at this stage; defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
