A Boston man has entered a guilty plea to charges of illegal firearm possession and drug trafficking. Brevin Dossantos-Wellington, 27, faced the music at the federal court in Boston, admitting to his possession of a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol and intent to distribute illicit substances, including cocaine base, methamphetamine, and oxycodone. This case is a sharp reminder of the perennial battle against gun violence and drug crimes in our city streets.
During a vehicle stop last May, Dossantos-Wellington attempted to make a run for it, failing shortly after the initiation of the pursuit. In the tangle of his escape, law enforcement discovered a Springfield Armory XD-9 9mm pistol and a conveniently packaged assortment of drugs ready for street sale. Having previously served time for a similar conviction, Dossantos-Wellington was already prohibited from gun possession, a fact that only compounds the gravity of his current offenses.
The judicial hammer could come down to tune of up to fifteen years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for the firearm possession. The drug trafficking charges push the potential envelope even further to up to twenty years behind bars, a minimum of three years supervised release, and up to a life-changing $1,000,000 fine. However, it's up to the court and the guidelines it follows to set the final sentence.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, this case falls under the purview of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a concerted initiative to bring together community and law enforcement to effectively reduce gun violence and crime. The layers of this project aim to foster trust among the community, support violence prevention efforts, prioritize enforcement, and consistently measure the impact to ensure safer neighborhoods.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, together with ATF Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, announced the plea. Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Dawley of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is leading the prosecution of Dossantos-Wellington, demonstrating the multifaceted approach to clamping down on crime. Sentencing has been scheduled for September 15, which will finally decide the consequences that Dossantos-Wellington will face.
