Massachusetts woman sentenced in Mass., Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine ring where 160+ pounds of meth, guns, 4,200 rounds of ammo seized

BOSTON – Member of a nationwide drug trafficking ring was sentenced today in federal court in Boston. Throughout the investigation over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns, and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 39-year-old Robyn Costa of Brockton, Mass., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 102 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In November 2022, Costa pleaded guilty to three counts of a superseding indictment charging her with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. The superseding indictment also charged 10 other defendants with controlled substance offenses, firearm offenses and money laundering offenses. 

In approximately October 2020, investigators received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Boston area. In late 2020, investigators identified Reshat Alkayisi as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to multiple co-conspirators throughout the New England area. Costa was identified as one of Alkayisi’s methamphetamine distributors. In April 2021, Alkayisi distributed approximately five pounds (or 2.1 kilograms) of pure methamphetamine to Costa.  Investigators arrested Costa following that meeting and seized the methamphetamine, as well as a loaded Smith & Wesson semi-automatic firearm, from Costa’s vehicle. 

Costa is the second defendant to be sentenced. All other defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation.