A member of the Boston-based gang H-Block has admitted guilt in a federal court to charges related to drug conspiracy. Dominique Carpenter-Grady, also known by several aliases including "8 Zipp," "Eight," and "Eighty," pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute PCP, MDMB-4en-PINACA, and ADB-4en-PINACA. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani has set the sentencing for February 11, 2026.
Carpenter-Grady was among ten members and associates of H-Block charged in August 2024 following an investigation that began in 2021 due to increased gang-related drug trafficking and violence. The investigation led to the seizure of over 500 grams of cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, and more than 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper.
The charging documents describe H-Block as one of Boston's most feared gangs, originally formed as the Humboldt Raiders in Roxbury during the 1980s before re-emerging as H-Block in the 2000s. Members have a history of violent encounters with law enforcement.
Carpenter-Grady was implicated in a conspiracy involving smuggling drugs into a Massachusetts prison using drug-saturated papers disguised as legal mail. This method exploits inmate mail policies which allow only legal mail delivery without original copies being inspected.
According to court documents, there has been an increase in synthetic cannabinoid smuggling into prisons via this method. Carpenter-Grady is the second defendant to plead guilty in this case.
The charges carry potential penalties including up to 20 years imprisonment, at least three years supervised release, and fines up to $1 million. Sentencing will follow federal guidelines and statutes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley alongside various law enforcement officials involved in the investigation supported by multiple agencies including Massachusetts State Police and local police departments. Assistant United States Attorneys John T. Dawley and Jeremy Franker are prosecuting the case under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which targets high-level criminal organizations through coordinated efforts.
It is important to note that all details from charging documents are allegations; remaining defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.