A Southbridge man has been brought to justice for his participation in a drug trafficking ring that spread fentanyl and cocaine across various parts of Massachusetts. The 40-year-old Ismael Maysonet was found guilty by a federal jury on charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute a significant quantity of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. This verdict marks a noteworthy win for a coalition of law enforcement agencies working to dismantle the flow of deadly narcotics in the region.
Maysonet, who was charged alongside 21 others in September 2022, played a role in a large-scale operation that used the U.S. Postal Service to send and receive drugs. United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, commenting on the conviction, stated, "Ismael Maysonet was a member of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that pumped fentanyl and cocaine into the communities of Massachusetts. We will continue to target and dismantle these groups to keep our communities safe and hold drug traffickers accountable", as obtained by the Department of Justice website.
The investigation, which spanned from August 2021 to August 2022, revealed the DTO’s method of operation, including obtaining cocaine through mail deliveries from Puerto Rico and dispatching fentanyl to Florida and other locations. Maysonet's activities were closely monitored, resulting in the interception of calls where he discussed drug-related transactions and his hands-on involvement in retrieving packages known to contain narcotics. The stringent efforts of law enforcement culminated in the seizure of approximately nine kilograms of cocaine and 800 grams of fentanyl from the DTO members throughout the investigation.
Further emphasizing the dangers of such illicit activities, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, Stephen Belleau, said, "Those who choose to distribute fentanyl and cocaine endanger their customers as well as the general public. Maintaining public safety requires that they be prosecuted aggressively." The successful prosecution of Maysonet sends a robust message about the ongoing campaign to confront drug trafficking head-on. Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez identified leaders of the DTO, entered guilty pleas in January 2025 and await their impending sentences, according to the Department of Justice website.
Scheduled for June 4, Maysonet's conviction could result in a lengthy prison term ranging between five years to life, a substantial fine, and supervised release after serving time behind bars. This conviction, while a single thread in the larger tapestry of the fight against drugs, stands as a testament to the commitment of federal and local agencies to protect communities from the scourge of addiction and the perils of unregulated substances being peddled on the streets. The conclusive sentencing will depend on the guidelines set forth by the federal system, which considers a myriad of factors related to the crime committed.
