A Lawrence, Massachusetts man was sentenced on March 5 in U.S. District Court in Providence for trafficking more than three pounds of crystal methamphetamine, according to United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.
Hector Gonzalez Michel, 35, received a sentence of 121 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release from Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. The sentencing follows Gonzalez Michel’s earlier guilty plea to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda said, “Methamphetamine trafficking continues to pose a serious threat to public safety and well-being of our communities. This sentence holds the defendant accountable and reflects the tireless work of our law enforcement partners to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs throughout New England.”
Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge for the New England Field Division, said, “Trafficking pounds of crystal meth isn’t just a crime, it’s a direct attack on the safety and health of our communities. When someone moves this amount of methamphetamine, the damage reaches far beyond one neighborhood. Our mission is to stop that pipeline and hold those responsible accountable.”
According to court records, members of the Rhode Island DEA Task Force learned that Gonzalez Michel planned to deliver a large quantity of crystal methamphetamine in Boston. Agents from both Rhode Island and Boston DEA Task Forces and Boston Police Detectives intercepted him outside a Boston residence as he arrived with approximately 3.4 pounds of crystal meth stored inside a small cooler.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson. The investigation involved personnel from multiple agencies including local police departments across Rhode Island and Amtrak Police as part of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force. Members from DEA Boston Task Force Group 5 also assisted with the investigation and arrest.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, eliminating cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime through coordinated efforts by Department of Justice programs.
