Rhode Island man pleads guilty in Massachusetts after 160 pounds of meth, 4,200 rounds of ammo, guns seized

BOSTON – The leader of a nationwide drug trafficking ring pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston yesterday. 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, Reshat Alkayisi, 62, a Turkish national residing in Coventry, R.I., pleaded guilty to three counts of a second superseding indictment, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense; money laundering conspiracy; and two counts of money laundering. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for July 11, 2024.

Alkayisi was arrested in July 2021 and indicted, along with eight others, on drug trafficking and gun charges. Alkayisi was subsequently charged in a superseding indictment that added two defendants, as well as money laundering charges against Alkayisi and others. 

In approximately October 2020, investigators received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Boston area. In late 2020, Alkayisi was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to customers throughout the New England area. Between October 2020 and April 2021, 12 controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from the drug trafficking organization—two of which were directly from Alkayisi and one that was negotiated with Alkayisi and allegedly delivered by Brian Keleman.

On June 1, 2021, four packages were seized containing a total of approximately 100 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine from Keleman that he allegedly picked up on behalf of Alkayisi from a UPS store in Rhode Island. On June 25, 2021, another package was seized, destined for Alkayisi that contained approximately 30 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine. In total, approximately 160 pounds of methamphetamine was seized throughout the investigation from controlled purchases, motor vehicle stops and package seizures.

During a search of Alkayisi’s residence in Rhode Island, an AK-47 assault rifle, a Glock handgun with no serial number, over 4,200 rounds ammunition, and over $23,000 cash was also seized. Additionally, numerous electronics, including a computer that contained a ledger documenting Alkayisi’s methamphetamine sales for January through June of 2021 was seized. Based on the ledger, as well as the seizures, Alkayisi was responsible for over 660 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of six months.

Alkayisi is the seventh defendant to plead guilty. All remaining defendants are scheduled to plead guilty.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine provides for a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking provides for a mandatory sentence of five years in prison from and after any sentence imposed for the underlying drug trafficking offense, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charges of money laundering conspiracy and money laundering provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the amount of laundered funds, whichever is greater. 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.

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. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter, Katherine Ferguson and James Arnold of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.