Two Lynn brothers, Meliek and Maurice Bennett, have found themselves in the clutches of the law, facing serious drug conspiracy and firearm charges after being arrested last Thursday. Meliek Bennett, 29, is looking at charges for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, while his elder sibling Maurice, 38, shares the drug conspiracy charge, as announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The investigation, which has roots deep in the criminal soil of Lynn, sprung from the identification of Maurice Bennett as an alleged Bloods street gang member, who’s got a past marred by firearm carrying and violent offenses, according to the Department of Justice's press release. Intercepted text messages show the Bennett brothers allegedly coordinating their illicit drug business, which included a cornucopia of substances like cocaine, prescription medication, counterfeit pills and marijuana, and they discussed distributing drugs, sharing supplies, paying off debts, and even planned a trip to New Hampshire to sell their prohibited wares.
As reported, the intercepted communications also reveal darker plots; a harrowing September 2024 recorded conversation had Meliek describing a sinister plan to shoot up a drug supplier's residence with a silenced pistol, potentially leading to the supplier's death, following an altercation where Meliek was beaten up. Authorities who later executed a search warrant at Meliek's residence uncovered a menagerie of drugs alongside a .22 caliber pistol complete with a threaded barrel for a silencer.
The Bennett brothers are now staring down the barrel of considerable time—Meliek could face up to 20 years in prison for the drug charges and a mandatory minimum of five years for the firearm offense these sentences, which are to run consecutively, according to the very statutes and sentencing guidelines that will guide the hand of the federal district court judge responsible for their case. Maurice's previous convictions and gang affiliations are likely to paint a bleak picture for his defense, provided they are seen as relevant in the eyes of the court. The case has been shepherded by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip A. Mallard and David Cutshall of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit, drawing valuable support from local police and Massachusetts corrections officials.
