Two men from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, including a high school dean, have been charged with conspiring to traffic cocaine in Western Massachusetts. Lavante Wiggins, 30, who serves as the Dean of Students at Pittsfield High School, and Theodore Warren, also known as "Monty," 42, face charges of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
The arrests were made following an investigation that revealed Wiggins allegedly led a drug trafficking organization (DTO) distributing large quantities of cocaine around Pittsfield. Warren is accused of being a trusted associate within this organization and acted as a runner for Wiggins. According to the charging documents, Wiggins expressed concerns about being under investigation in August 2024 and used Warren to complete transactions and deliver cocaine.
It is alleged that one customer accrued over $34,000 in debt for cocaine supplied by Wiggins on credit. Despite this debt, it is claimed that both men continued supplying significant amounts of cocaine to the customer. Specifically noted are four separate deliveries: approximately 91 grams on September 10; approximately 100 grams on October 14; 125 grams on October 31; and finally, 150 grams on December 10.
If convicted of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison along with supervised release for life and fines reaching $1 million. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge according to U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy alongside Jodi Cohen from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Division. The case received support from various local police departments across Holyoke, Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield, Easthampton as well as Pittsfield Police Departments; Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office among others involved.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches will prosecute the case. It is important to note that these details remain allegations until proven otherwise in court where both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.