Two South Coast residents sentenced to prison on trafficking charges after $57,000 in drugs seized

District Attorney Michael O’Keefe announced today that on Friday, two people from the South Coast were sentenced to prison on drug trafficking charges.

54-year-old Netria Haywood and 70-year-old Vincent Grant, previously of New Bedford, were found guilty of drug trafficking offenses after a three-day jury trial, before Judge Diane Freniere, in the Nantucket Superior Court.

The jury found Grant guilty of Trafficking Cocaine, 18 -36 grams, and found Haywood guilty of Trafficking Cocaine, 200+ grams. Following the verdict, the Commonwealth requested Grant be sentenced to 4 to 5 years in state prison, and requested Haywood be sentenced to 13 to 15 years in state prison. Judge Freniere sentenced Grant to 3 years in state prison, and Haywood was sentenced to 13 to 14 years in state prison.

The indictments stemmed from a 2019 narcotics investigation into Grant and Haywood, based on information that they were distributing cocaine on Nantucket.

In October of 2019, detectives of the Nantucket Police Department executed a search warrant at Grant and Haywood’s residence on Nantucket. Grant and Haywood were found at the house at the time of the execution. Upon searching the defendants’ shared bedroom, detectives located over 350 grams of cocaine; assorted items used in the distribution of cocaine, including scales and cutting agents; and over $26,000 in cash.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Max Mitrokostas and investigated by the Nantucket Police Department.