Massachusetts pot dealer sentenced to prison, failed to report over $625,000 in income

A Massachusetts man was sentenced Thursday in federal court for marijuana distribution and tax offenses.

Zachary Sweener, 36, of Boston, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to three months in prison and three years of supervised release. Sweener was also ordered to pay $156,457 in restitution. On July 6, 2021, Sweener pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute marijuana, one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, one count of filing a false tax return and two counts of failing to file tax returns.

From 2014 to 2017, Sweener conspired with others to distribute marijuana. On January 10, 2017, a search of Sweener’s residence recovered 1,000 marijuana vape oil pens and over $90,000 in cash, two gold bars and other luxury items. Sweener also filed a false income tax return for 2013 by substantially under-reporting his income and failed to file tax returns for tax years 2014 and 2015, despite earning over $250,000 in each of those years. For tax years 2013 through 2015, Sweener failed to report over $625,000 in income and therefore failed to pay over $150,000 in federal income taxes.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Deputy Assistant Attorney General David A. Hubbert of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division; Joleen D. Simpson, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex J. Grant of Mendell’s Springfield Branch Office and Trial Attorney Christopher O’Donnell of the Justice Department’s Tax Division prosecuted the case.