Drug trafficking investigation by officials throughout Massachusetts results in prison sentence

BOSTON – A Massachusetts man was sentenced Wednesday for trafficking cocaine and illegally possessing ammunition.

According to the Department of Justice, 32-year-old Martin Angomas, of Braintree, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to four years in prison and three years of supervised release. On June 16, 2022, Angomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and to possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.

Angomas was charged with 23 others in June 2020 as part of Operation Snowfall – a multi-year investigation into drug trafficking activities by a drug trafficking organization comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates. According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs. As a result, their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents.

The investigation identified Angomas as a drug distributor and supplier. During intercepted communications between Angomas and co-defendant Hassan Monroe, a wholesale supplier and distributor within the DTO, Angomas coordinated providing Monroe with cocaine to be given to Kenji Drayton, one of the DTO’s principal suppliers and distributors. Angomas and Monroe were later observed meeting at an agreed-upon location, getting into a vehicle and driving to meet Drayton for the deal. They then left in separate vehicles.

During a search of Angomas’ residence in June 2020, ammunition, cocaine base (crack cocaine), two loaded firearms and over $360,000 were recovered. At the time of the offense, Angomas had a prior conviction punishable by a more than one year in prison.

Angomas is the 12th defendant to be sentenced in the case. The remaining defendants are either pending sentencing or have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial. One defendant, Derek Hart, remains at large. On Sept. 28, 2022, Drayton was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. On July 28, 2022, Monroe was sentenced to six years in prison and four years of supervised release.

First Assistant United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Brian Kyes, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement. Assistance in the investigation was provided by the Braintree, Cambridge, Canton, Randolph and Weymouth Police Departments; the Suffolk, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorneys’ Offices; and the Suffolk, Plymouth and Norfolk County Sheriffs’ Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and Timothy E. Moran Chief of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.