A major drug trafficker who operated in New England was sentenced to a lengthy prison term this week, according to a statement by federal authorities. Reshat Alkayisi, 63, received a 23-year sentence for leading what officials have described as one of the largest methamphetamine distribution networks in the region. The Turkish national, residing in Covington, R.I., also faces five years of supervised release after his prison term. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton issued the sentence on Tuesday.
Alkayisi pleaded guilty in April 2024 to a series of charges that included conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, money laundering conspiracy, and two counts of money laundering. During the investigation, authorities intercepted over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine and dismantled an illegal marijuana grow operation housing hundreds of plants. An AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns, and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized from Alkayisi's residence, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
"This defendant was one of the largest methamphetamine distributors in New England, whose massive drug operation fueled addiction and devastation across our communities. He is now going to pay a very heavy price for the havoc he wreaked across Massachusetts," said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy in a statement made by the U.S. Attorney's Office. The sentence aims to serve as a stern warning to other would-be narcotics suppliers about the severe consequences of distributing deadly drugs.
In a collaborative sting operation known as Operation Ice Cats, federal authorities tracked Alkayisi's extensive network. Communications intercepted showed that he supplied distributor customers with methamphetamine and even boasted about the quality, telling his contacts, "You’re gonna get nice, big crystals," as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Alkayisi also went to extensive lengths to disguise the financial proceeds of his criminal operation, using methods such as structuring cash deposits and peer-to-peer transfers. A computer seized during a raid contained a ledger documenting his sales, contributing to the case against him.
Alkayisi is not the only one facing consequences for involvement in the drug ring; he is the seventh defendant sentenced in the case. During the investigation, law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and state police from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine, played key roles in dismantling Alkayisi's operation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson, who prosecuted the case, emphasized that the partnership between the agencies was instrumental in the successful prosecution.
This case falls under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which focuses on dismantling the most significant criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States. The conviction and sentencing of Alkayisi underscore the ongoing efforts to tackle the pressing drug crisis that plagues many communities across New England and the broader United States.
