BOSTON – A Hyannis woman pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Boston to her role in a widespread Cape Cod heroin scheme run by the Nauti-Block Gang.
Bethanne Hutchings, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin – aiding and abetting and one count of maintaining a place for drug purposes. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Jan. 30, 2018.
On April 5, 2016, following a nearly eight-month investigation, 13 members of the Cape Cod-based Nauti-Block gang, led by Denzel Chisholm, were arrested on federal drug trafficking and firearms charges. Two subsequent superseding indictments brought the total number of defendants charged in the case to 19.
Hutchings is the 19th and final defendant to be convicted of, or plead guilty to, the various drug distribution and conspiracy charges related to the investigation. 17 defendants pleaded guilty while two – Molly London and Denzel Chisholm – were convicted by a federal jury. Hutchings, like London, allowed members of the conspiracy, including Christopher Wilkins and Chisholm, to store large quantities of heroin at her home for further distribution.
In September 2017, Chisholm, Wilkins, and London were sentenced to 28.5 years in prison, nine years in prison, and 20 months in prison, respectively.
The charge of aiding and abetting the conspiracy to possess heroin with the intent to distribute provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
The charge of maintaining a premises for drug purposes provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $500,000.
