Two Boston gang members have received prison sentences for a racketeering scheme that entwined drug trafficking with violence. James Rodrigues, also known as "Bummy," and Devante Lopes, known as "D-Lopes," were connected to the Cameron Street gang, rooted in Dorchester and engaging in a myriad of crimes ranging from murder to drug and firearms offenses, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Rodrigues, 34, facing an incarceration period of 42 months followed by three years of supervised release, pled guilty to both racketeering conspiracy and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, per a disclosure by Senior District Court Judge William G. Young. Lopes, 31, received a 60-month sentence complemented with three years of supervised freedom. He had earlier pled guilty to charges including RICO conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, these facts coming from the U.S. Department of Justice's official release.
Authorities' probe into the gang's activities culminated with the seizure of 21 firearms, vast supplies of ammunition, and an assortment of narcotics. Rodrigues' operation distributed cocaine and crack from a Somerville stash house, where law enforcement recorded controlled purchases amounting to near 100 grams of crack cocaine. During an April 2022 raid at that location, officers uncovered high quantities of cocaine and cash alongside paraphernalia indicative of trafficking.
Lopes' illicit activities involved shipping large marijuana consignments from California to Massachusetts and cash back to the West Coast, with interceptions putting the seized marijuana weight at around 56.6 kilograms. A search at Lopes' residence saw the confiscation of 800 grams of cocaine, a money counter, a firearm box, and various articles suggesting drug sales, demonstrating the gang's vast network and operational sophistication.
In addition to drug and racketeering charges, the Cameron Street gang has notoriety for offenses including armed robberies, home invasions, and even human trafficking. Their control over territory and intimidating presence, often backed by firearms, is part of a broader strategy to sustain their criminal enterprise. This case was prosecuted as part of a broader Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces initiative, aimed at dismantling the highest-level criminal organizations threatening the U.S.
The investigations drew on the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Boston Police Department, and several Massachusetts police departments. As these convictions manifest, the prosecuting attorneys and involved agencies underscore the importance and effectiveness of intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations in uprooting organized crime.
