Drug Trafficking News Update

Offices of the United States Attorneys

You are subscribed to Drug Trafficking news updates. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Lynn Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Armed Robbery of Two Drug Dealers 08/14/2025 08:00 AM EDT BOSTON – A Lynn man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to two armed robberies which took place in March 2020 and January 2023, targeting drug dealers and their drug proceeds.  Claudio Melo, a/k/a "Blue Drilla," 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act Robbery). U.S. District Court Senior Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Nov. 13, 2025. In February 2025, Melo was arrested and charged.Melo is a Crip street gang member who is a convicted felon with an extensive record of criminal offenses for which he served various state prison sentences, including assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, armed robbery, larceny and malicious destruction of property.The first armed robbery took place in March 2020 and targeted a drug customer of Vincent Caruso, a/k/a "Fatz." Vincent Caruso was then on pretrial release for state fentanyl and firearm charges. Caruso orchestrated an armed robbery and home invasion in which Melo and another coconspirator broke into an apartment and robbed the occupants of approximately $18,000 in drug proceeds and jewelry. During the incident, Melo engaged in a struggle with the victim and struck him with a weapon. Caruso previously pleaded guilty to charges involving the armed robbery and was sentenced to nearly 21 years in federal prison in June 2022.The second armed robbery took place on Jan. 30, 2023. A drug transaction was scheduled to take place at an apartment in Woburn, during which an associate of Melo was to deliver a kilogram of cocaine in exchange for approximately $24,000. During the transaction, Melo and another individual entered the apartment and pointed semiautomatic pistols at the drug customer before taking the $24,000 in cash. The $24,000 cash was proceeds of drug trafficking activities the drug customer was engaged in. Melo and the other individual forced the drug customer to open a safe in his bedroom, which was empty. Shortly thereafter, both robbers departed with the $24,000 cash.The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery provides for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.   Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Essex County District Attorney's Office and the Lynn Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.  Waterbury Armed Drug Trafficker Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison 08/14/2025 08:00 AM EDT ELVIN SANTOS, 26, of Waterbury, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by four years of supervised release, for drug distribution and firearm possession offenses.

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