A federal jury has convicted Ismael Maysonet, a Southbridge resident, for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine and fentanyl across the North Shore and Central Massachusetts. Maysonet, 40, was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute over 500 grams of cocaine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl. His sentencing is set for June 4, 2025, by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley commented on the conviction: “Ismael Maysonet was a member of a large-scale drug trafficking organization that pumped fentanyl and cocaine into the communities of Massachusetts. We will continue to target and dismantle these groups to keep our communities safe and hold drug traffickers accountable.”
Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Field Division, emphasized the importance of prosecuting those who distribute dangerous drugs: “Those who choose to distribute fentanyl and cocaine endanger their customers as well as the general public. Maintaining public safety requires that they be prosecuted aggressively.”
Ketty Larco-Ward from the United States Postal Inspection Service highlighted efforts to prevent drug distribution through postal services: “Postal inspectors are committed to ensuring the U.S. Postal Service is not a mechanism to distribute deadly fentanyl and other illicit narcotics.”
The investigation revealed that between August 2021 and August 2022, Maysonet participated in distributing cocaine and fentanyl at the behest of DTO leaders Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez. The organization used postal services for drug trafficking activities, including sending packages containing drugs from Puerto Rico to various locations.
Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez have pleaded guilty earlier this month, with their sentencing scheduled for April 29, 2025, and May 12, 2025.
The charges against Maysonet carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years up to life imprisonment, along with potential fines up to $10 million.
The case was announced by U.S. Attorney Foley alongside DEA Acting SAC Belleau and USPIS INC Larco-Ward. Assistance came from multiple law enforcement agencies including the United States Marshals Service and local police departments.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations using an intelligence-driven approach.