A Boston man has entered a guilty plea to charges of racketeering, drug trafficking, and unlicensed firearms dealing related to his involvement with the Cameron Street gang. According to the U.S. Department of Justice report, Jose Afonseca, 32, admitted to his role in the gang's criminal activities, including the distribution of large quantities of cocaine and the illegal sale of firearms. The sentencing has been scheduled for January 30, 2025, by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young.
The investigation revealed that the Cameron Street gang, based predominantly in Boston's Dorchester section, engaged in violent acts to maintain and expand its territory. The DOJ announcement detailed that Afonseca was caught on tape negotiating illegal weapons and sold two guns and ammunition to a cooperating witness. During a raid on April 15, 2022, 398 grams of cocaine, drug packaging materials, and other items were seized from a location in Somerville. The criminal charges Afonseca is facing include a potential 20-year maximum prison sentence for RICO conspiracy and up to five years for firearms dealing.
This case is part of an initiative of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). Such initiatives aim to dismantle high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States via a collaborated, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy, along with officials from the ATF, DEA, and Boston Police Department, coordinated the announcement of Afonseca's guilty plea. Assistance was also provided by various Massachusetts police departments and district attorney’s offices.
Afonseca's admission is a testament to the effectiveness of these task force collaborations, embodying OCDETF's mission to identify and disrupt influential criminal entities. The federal agencies involved and the prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno, are recognized for their roles in bringing Afonseca to justice. While the indictment names other defendants, they remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
