Two indicted in Mass., Arizona, Rhode Island drug conspiracy after 16lbs of meth, guns, pills, dozens of social security cards, licenses, seized

BOSTON – Two individuals have been charged in a superseding indictment in connection with a nationwide conspiracy to traffic controlled substances from Arizona into Massachusetts. More than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 700 grams of fentanyl pills were seized during the investigation.

According to Massachusetts Department of Justice, 30-year-old Denise Guyette of Woonsocket, R.I. and 47-year-old Gerardo Garza, a/k/a “Oso,” of Yuma, Ariz., were indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. The superseding indictment alleges that 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine were attributable to Guyette.

Guyette and Garza were originally charged along with co-defendant Nathan Boddie with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on Feb. 7, 2023. Boddie pleaded guilty on May 19, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10, 2023, before United States District Judge Indira Talwani.

According to court documents, in or about April 2022, an investigation began into a drug trafficking organization led by Guyette. It is alleged that Guyette conspired with Garza, Boddie and others to traffic various controlled substances – including methamphetamine, fentanyl pills and cocaine – in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and elsewhere. It is further alleged that the DTO routinely used the mail to ship drugs from Arizona to Massachusetts, often hiding the drugs within packages containing children’s items such as toy trucks, Halloween decorations and Disney items. Between May and October 2022, investigators seized seven packages containing a total of over 900 grams of methamphetamine, as well as thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl.

At the time of Guyette’s arrest on Feb. 8, 2023, approximately 14 pounds of pure methamphetamine and thousands of fentanyl pills weighing over 300 grams were located in a safe in her bedroom. A digital scale as well as multiple Rhode Island and Massachusetts driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and credit cards in the names of other individuals were also found during a search of Guyette’s residence.

In total, over 16 pounds of methamphetamine and more than 700 grams of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl was seized over the course of the investigation.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison with a maximum of life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. 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; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and Hudson Police Chief Richard DiPersio made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Imperial County Resident Agency and Yuma Resident Agency; United States Postal Service; Massachusetts State Police; and the Woonsocket Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Charles Dell’Anno of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.