22 accused of charges including murder, attempted murder, racketeering, robbery, drug, gun offenses throughout Massachusetts

BOSTON – In a 42 count third superseding indictment, 22 members and associates of the Boston-based Cameron Street gang have been charged with various crimes including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, gun and drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking.

According to court documents, the Cameron Street gang is a violent criminal enterprise whose members and associates are involved in a variety of criminal activities – including murders, attempted murders, armed robberies, carjackings, home invasions, human trafficking, as well as drug and firearms trafficking, among other offenses – in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston and surrounding areas. While the gang is primarily based in Boston, Cameron Street criminal activity has spanned other communities, including Brockton, Cambridge, Somerville, Quincy, Everett, Randolph, Taunton and elsewhere in Massachusetts.

It is alleged that Cameron Street members use violence against rival gangs and witnesses, typically with the use of firearms, to maintain and enhance their status and the overall reputation of the gang, as well as to protect the gang’s power, reputation and territory. Cameron Street members are allegedly responsible for assisting one another with obtaining and accessing firearms, forming and maintaining drug trafficking connections, resolving territorial disputes with rival gangs and providing safe havens for fellow members who are wanted by law enforcement. It is further alleged that Cameron Street gang members regularly post videos or use social media to promote Cameron Street, denigrate gang rivals and to celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang. To identify themselves as members of the gang, members obtain tattoos, use hand signs and wear jewelry and clothing involving the letters “C,” “A” and “M,” or numbers corresponding with the letters’ places in the alphabet, “3-1-1-3.” Members engage in drug trafficking activity and distributed kilograms of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine), oxycodone and marijuana throughout Massachusetts. During the investigation, 21 firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were allegedly seized from 11 of the defendants.

The third superseding indictment adds three Cameron Street members to the RICO conspiracy count: Takari Elliot, a/k/a “T-Paper”; Daronde Bethea, a/k/a “Freeze”; and Michael Nguyen, a/k/a “Asian.” The third superseding indictment alleges that, as part of the Cameron Street enterprise, Elliot was paid to commit the Oct. 13, 2020 murder of a gang rival in Brockton. It is further alleged that Cameron Street members committed previously uncharged attempted murders, including Eric Correia and Clayton Rodrigues’ attempted murder of a gang rival in Boston as well as the June 11, 2018 attempted murder of a gang rival in Boston by Betha and Anthony Centieo. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Bethea and Nguyen worked with Cameron Street associate Brendan Amado to commit a home invasion robbery of a Canton home in July 2018.

The charge of RICO conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Because Elliot is alleged to have committed a murder during the Cameron Street enterprise, Elliot faces an increased penalty of life in prison on the RICO conspiracy count. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and/or ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in prison, up to five of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. The charges of conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine or 50 grams or more of methamphetamine provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years in prison, up to 40 years in prison, supervised release of at least 4 years, and a fine of up to $5 million. The charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances each provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threat or violence provides for a sentence of up to 20 years, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release for three years. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Michael J. Krol, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Alathea E. Porter of Levy’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

Kenny Romero, a/k/a “KG,” 28, charged with RICO conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession with intent to distirbute cocaine, distribution of cocaine base and cocaine;

Anthony Centeio, a/k/a “Wheezy,” a/k/a “Taliban Wheeze,” 33, charged with RICO conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;

Felisberto Lopes, a/k/a “Phil,” a/k/a “CheeB,” 36, charged with RICO conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute;

Keiarri Dyette, a/k/a “Kemo,” 24, charged with RICO conspiracy, dealing in firearms without a license, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine;

Eric Correia, a/k/a “Bubba,” 24, charged with RICO conspiracy and distribution of marijuana;

Paulo Santos, a/k/a “Bucky,” 33, charged with RICO conspiracy, possession of 500 grams or more of cocaine with intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense;

Devante Lopes, a/k/a “D-Lopes,” 27, charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and possession with intent to distribtue 500 grams or more of cocaine;

Charod Taylor, a/k/a “Pachino,” 33, charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distirbute cocaine base and cocaine;

Jose Afonseca, a/k/a “Zay,” 30, charged with RICO conspiracy, dealing in firearms without a license, and conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine;

James Rodrigues, a/k/a “Bummy,” 32, charged with RICO conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute cocaine base;

Jonathan Darosa, a/k/a “Jeezy,” 29, charged with RICO conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and distribution of cocaine and oxycodon;

Clayton Rodrigues, a/k/a “Loo,” a/k/a “C-Loo,” 26, charged with RICO conspiracy and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number;

Wilter Rodrigues, a/k/a “Walt,” a/k/a “Wo-Wo,” 35, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base;

Michael Lopes, a/k/a “Meech,” 34, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine;

Victor Nunez, a/k/a “Tito,” 41, charged with conspiracy to distirbute cocaine base and cocaine;

FNU LNU, a/k/a “Smoke,” charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and cocaine;

Jamaal Davis, a/k/a “Marley,” 29, charged with distribution of cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense;

Michael Nguyen, a/k/a “Asian,” 22, charged with RICO conspiracy, possession with intent to distirbute marijuana and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense;

Steve Depina, a/k/a “Stizz,” 35, charged with felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of cocaine base and cocaine;

Daronde Bethea, a/k/a “Freeze,” 30, charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threat or violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm;

Takari Elliot, a/k/a “T-Paper,” 31, charged with RICO conspiracy; and

Brendon Amado, 27, charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threat or violence