Mashpee man sentenced in large-scale marijuana operation

BOSTON – A Cape Cod man was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with running a large-scale marijuana operation and then laundering the proceeds.  

David Landry, 29, of Mashpee, was sentenced 78 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  Landry is currently serving a four-year state sentence for heroin distribution. 

The federal sentence will run concurrently with the remainder of his state sentence. 

According to prosecutors, in December 2015, Landry, his mother, Diane Johnson, Justin Groom and Evan Lopes, were indicted with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, conspiracy to manufacture marijuana, money laundering, possession with intent to distribute methylone (also known as “molly”), being a felon in possession of a firearm and money laundering conspiracy. 

From May 2014 to January 2015, the U.S Attorney said Landry and Groom conspired to manufacture and distribute marijuana, and possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute it.  Landry, who was arrested and has been in state custody since September 12, 2014, continued participating in the criminal offense while in jail on the state charges.  

On Jan. 6, 2015, authorities executed a search warrant at a home on Cheryl Lane in Pocasset, and seized numerous marijuana plants and extensive growing equipment.  Groom is alleged to have used the proceeds of the illegal activities to pay the rent on the Cheryl Lane house. 

It is alleged that Lopes, aided by Landry, possessed with intent to distribute methylone, a Schedule I controlled substance similar to MDMA. 

On Jan. 15, 2015, law enforcement authorities executed a search warrant at a residence on Point Pleasant Circle in East Wareham, Mass., and seized two kilograms of methylone and several letters Landry sent to Lopes while Landry was in jail. 

Landry, a convicted felon, was in constructive possession of a loaded .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol on Jan. 21, 2015, when law enforcement officers recovered the pistol during a search of a residence on Acapesket Road in Falmouth. 

Landry pleaded guilty to constructively possessing the gun and directing an associate to its whereabouts.  From 2010 to 2015, it is alleged that Landry and his mother, Diane Johnson, conspired to launder drug proceeds in order to disguise the nature of the funds and promote continued drug trafficking.        

During the sentencing hearing, the government argued that Landry is a dangerous offender whose criminal conduct lasted from at least 2010 to 2015, and continued while he was in state custody.  Moreover, it involved significant, wholesale quantities of heroin, methylone, and marijuana. 

The marijuana grow operation involved sophisticated, expensive equipment for which Landry paid over $40,000, and from which Landry expected to produce substantial illegal revenue for years.  The money laundering involved multiple bank accounts and hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

The loaded firearm, hidden at an associate’s residence, apparently reflected Landry’s intention to continue to use threats and violence in furtherance of his drug trafficking and money laundering activity.

On March 2, Groom was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to marijuana and money laundering offenses.  Lopes and Johnson are awaiting trial. 

 



CapeCod.com
737 West Main Street
Hyannis, MA 02601
Contact Us | Advertise Terms of Use 
Employment and EEO | Privacy