BOSTON – A Hyannis woman pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with trafficking heroin on behalf of Denzel Chisholm and the “Nauti-Block” gang.
Eelyese Mateo, 20, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin and money laundering on behalf of Daniel Chisholm and the “Nauti-Block” gang.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for July 18, 2017.
In October 2015, law enforcement initiated an effort to address the rising opioid epidemic in Massachusetts and on Cape Cod in particular.
According to court documents, Mateo and other co-conspirators were responsible for a significant quantity of the heroin distributed on Cape Cod.
A wiretap investigation led to their arrests and indictments. Mateo, who was in a personal relationship with Chisholm, stored heroin at her home and delivered it on Chisholm’s behalf to Chisholm and other co-conspirators.
Chisholm would frequently call Mateo and tell her to either deliver heroin or pick up heroin at a known stash house. In total, Mateo agreed to accept responsibility for between 400 and 700 grams of heroin. Chisholm’s arraignment is set for April 13, 2017.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute heroin provides for a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million.
Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe; and Barnstable Police Chief Paul MacDonald, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric S. Rosen of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
