A man from Lynn entered a guilty plea to charges of drug conspiracy and armed robbery, stemming from a years-long operation and a violent heist that occurred in January 2023. Harvey Rodriguez, known on the streets as "Big Opp," admitted to his involvement in these crimes before U.S. Senior District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV, with sentencing set for April 27.
Rodriguez, 29, was arrested in August 2025 and faced accusations of playing a significant role in a North Shore drug ring, linked to several individuals previously charged with federal drug offenses, including Vincent Caruso, Lawrence Michael Nagle, Jr., and Schuyler Oppenheimer. The group was allegedly involved in the manufacturing and distribution of fake prescription pills, as well as trafficking cocaine and fentanyl throughout Massachusetts, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The plea also covered Rodriguez's part in an armed robbery that took place during a botched drug deal. Prosecutors detailed the January 30 incident, in which Rodriguez, alongside Claudio Melo, confronted a drug dealer with semiautomatic pistols and made off with $24,000 – cash meant for cocaine. This violent turn, at a Woburn apartment, added to the weight of Rodriguez's charges, further casting a light on the dark underbelly of drug trafficking in the region.
Underpinning these charges are severe penalties – the conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute can carry up to 20 years in prison,, with fines reaching $1 million. The Hobbs Act Robbery count, for its part, could mean another two decades behind bars and up to $250,000 in fines. As stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, these sentences hinge on federal guidelines and statutes that steer the hands of justice in criminal matters.
Assisting in the apprehension and case development against Rodriguez were multiple agencies, including the FBI, DEA, Massachusetts State Police, and Lynn Police Department. The efforts culminate in what appears to be the untangling of a drug web that has ensnared portions of Massachusetts for years, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard taking the lead in the prosecution of the case.
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