A member of the East Side Money Gang (ES$G) received a federal sentence on Aug. 8 in Boston for crack cocaine trafficking.
Moises “Moi” Casado, 21, of Chelsea, was given a five-year prison term and four years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Senior Judge Richard G. Stearns. Casado entered a guilty plea in April 2017 to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base.
Between 2015 and 2016, federal investigators uncovered a network of street gangs that had formed alliances for trafficking weapons and drugs across Massachusetts while engaging in violence against opposing gang members. Following this investigation, 53 defendants were indicted in June 2016 on federal firearms and drug charges. The defendants included alleged leaders, members, and associates of the 18th Street Gang, the East Side Money Gang, and the Boylston Street Gang. These organizations were active primarily in East Boston, Boston, Chelsea, Brockton, Malden, Revere, and Everett. The investigation resulted in the seizure of over 70 firearms, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.
Investigators identified Casado as an East Side Money Gang member who sold approximately 55 grams of cocaine base to a cooperating witness on Dec. 29, 2015, in Malden.
Casado is among 13 defendants who have entered guilty pleas.