A Texas resident was sentenced in Boston for involvement in a drug conspiracy distributing oxycodone pills in Massachusetts. Christan Russell, from Tomball, Texas, received a sentence of 70 months in prison plus three years of supervised release. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper imposed the sentence, which includes a $30,000 fine.
Russell had confessed to charges of oxycodone distribution and structuring cash transactions in October 2024. He was indicted with five others by a federal grand jury in August 2023.
Russell's criminal activities took place roughly between February and July 2023. He was known to supply oxycodone to Kenneth Veiga, who further distributed the drugs to others, including Austin Gonsalves and John Campbell. These pills were sourced from the Houston area. During March 2023, Russell made a trip from Houston to Boston to deliver pills to Veiga at a Rhode Island hotel. Furthermore, on March 14, 2023, Russell performed multiple structured cash deposits to evade IRS requirements.
Veiga, having pleaded guilty, was sentenced in July 2024 to a 60-month prison term, while Gonsalves and Campbell received 41 months and four-year prison terms, respectively, followed by three years of supervised release.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, alongside authorities from various agencies including the DEA, IRS, and Massachusetts State Police, announced the sentencing. Special assistance came from multiple law enforcement departments.
This operation is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) aiming to target high-level criminal organizations through coordinated law enforcement strategies.