A Malden man has been hit with a 10-year prison stretch for peddling meth to an undercover cop. David Desousa, 33, was handed down a decade behind bars by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns, to be followed by five years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to multiple drug distribution and possession charges, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced Thursday.
In a scheme that lasted for months, Desousa was busted after selling hefty amounts of the highly addictive drug on three separate occasions in early 2020. According to a statement from the Justice Department, the Malden man was nabbed by authorities on August 6, 2020, when the was on his way to drop off two ounces of meth to an undercover agent.
Desousa's arrest led to the seizure of more than 55 grams of nearly pure meth and over 10 grams of cocaine from his vehicle. More incriminating evidence was discovered during a raid of his home and storage unit, where law enforcement found more meth, a loaded gun, and a cache of $95,000 in cash — a testament to the lucrative illicit business he was running.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and James E. Arnold of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, brought to a close as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces program. This program’s approach aims to disrupt and dismantle criminal networks that pose a significant threat to the country.
Officials from across various agencies including the DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and local police departments of Arlington, Medford, and Malden were involved in the bust. The collaborative operation highlights the continued efforts to combat the trafficking of dangerous drugs that devastate communities and ruin lives.
