After 160+ Pounds of Meth, Firearms, and Ammo Confiscated, Two Men Imprisoned in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine Drug Ring

Boston – Two members of a national drug trafficking network were sentenced today in federal court in Boston. During the investigation, over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns, and more than 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow enterprise with hundreds of marijuana plants was also busted.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, 48-year-old Edison Klotz of Stoughton, Mass., was sentenced to 46 months in prison and two years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of superseding information charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as well as distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Brian Keleman, 55, of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to two counts of a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and money laundering conspiracy.

The superseding indictment also charged ten more defendants with controlled narcotic, weapon, and money laundering violations.

In October 2020, investigators learned about the drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Boston area. Throughout the investigation, a cooperating witness made controlled purchases from members of the drug trafficking group, including Klotz. In November 2020, Klotz handed up 108 grams of pure methamphetamine to the collaborating witness.

In late 2020, co-defendant Reshat Alkayisi was revealed as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker who distributed multi-pound volumes to distributor customers across New England. Between October 2020 and April 2021, 12 controlled purchases of methamphetamine were made from the drug trafficking organization, two of which were directly delivered by Alkayisi and one arranged with Alkayisi and delivered by Keleman. The investigation also found that Keleman assisted Alkayisi with his illegal marijuana grow. Keleman also transported methamphetamine for Alkayisi and helped him launder his narcotics gains.

Klotz and Keleman are the fifth and sixth offenders to have been sentenced. All other individuals have pled guilty and are either awaiting sentence or have already been sentenced.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, delivered the announcements. The Massachusetts Department of Correction, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, and the police departments of Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown, and Waltham all gave valuable help. The Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine State Police also assisted. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson from the Criminal Division.

This case is part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces’ (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF employs a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most powerful criminal organizations that pose a threat to the United States.