Nine Individuals in the Mason Square Area of Springfield Charged with Drug Trafficking Violations

SPRINGFIELD, MA—Federal charges were unsealed today against nine individuals in the Mason Square area of Springfield who were charged with various drug trafficking violations.

Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks; Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; William Bennett, Hampden County District Attorney; Colonel Mark F. Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Commissioner William Fitchet of the Springfield Police Department; and Michael J. Ashe, Jr. Hampden County Sheriff announced the unsealing of eight federal indictments charging a total of nine individuals with drug trafficking violations.

The arrests and charges are the result of a joint effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to identify, infiltrate, disrupt, and dismantle street gangs, including street gangs operating in the Mason Square area of Springfield, such as the Eastern Avenue Posse, Sycamore Street Posse, and Bristol Street Posse, involved in drug trafficking activity and associated crimes of violence. In 2005, the Western Massachusetts FBI Gang Task Force began focusing on the Mason Square area gangs. Since the investigation began in 2005, the Task Force has successfully made controlled narcotics purchases in the greater Springfield area from leaders, members, or associates of Mason Square area gangs.

According to the Affidavit filed in federal court, eight of the nine defendants are associated with, members of, or leaders of the Eastern Avenue Posse, Sycamore Street Posse and Bristol Street Posse, and are involved in a broad range of illegal activities including drug trafficking and crimes of violence. The Affidavit also alleges that the defendants are considered to be wholesale suppliers of crack cocaine to younger gang associates who are distributing crack cocaine in open air markets, and are committing acts of violence in relation to that activity.

The following individuals were arrested and charged today:

1. ANTOINE WATTS, age 31, of Springfield, charged with one count of Conspiracy
   to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack
   Cocaine and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five
   grams or more of Crack Cocaine. If convicted, WATTS faces a maximum
   sentence of life in prison.
   
   
2. LAWON BAULKMAN, age 28, of Springfield, charged with one count of
   Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack
   Cocaine. If convicted, BAULKMAN faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in
   prison.
   
   
3. ANTHONY GRAHAM, age 27, of Springfield, charged with one count of
   Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or
   more of Crack Cocaine and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute and
   Distribution of five grams or more of Crack Cocaine. If convicted, GRAHAM
   faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
   
   
4. JAYSON McIVERY, age 21, of Springfield, charged with one count of Conspiracy
   to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack
   Cocaine, one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five
   grams or more of Crack Cocaine and one count of Possession with Intent to
   Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack Cocaine. If convicted,
   McIVERY faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
   
   
5. RINGO VAUGHAN, age 26, of Springfield, charged with one count of Conspiracy
   to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack
   Cocaine and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five
   grams or more of Crack Cocaine. If convicted, VAUGHAN faces a maximum
   sentence of life in prison.
   
   
6. MAURICE SPENCER, age 31, of Springfield, charged with two counts of
   Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack
   Cocaine. If convicted, SPENCER faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in
   prison.
   
   
7. JAMES COLLINS, age 32, of Springfield, charged with two counts of Possession
   with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack Cocaine.
   If convicted, JAMES COLLINS faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
   
   The following individuals were also charged today and are presently in custody on
   unrelated state charges:
   
   
8. TOMMIE LEE COLLINS, age 35, of Springfield, charged with one count of
   Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack
   Cocaine. If convicted, TOMMIE LEE COLLINS faces a maximum sentence of
   life in prison.
   
   
9. EUGENE CRENSHAW, age 32, of Springfield, charged with two counts of
   Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of five grams or more of Crack
   Cocaine. If convicted, CRENSHAW faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in
   prison.

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, consisting of law enforcement personnel from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Massachusetts State Police, the Springfield Police Department and the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office. The FBI’s Gang Task Force is assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alex J. Grant and Michelle L. Dineen Jerrett of Loucks’ Springfield Office.

The details contained in the Indictments and complaints are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.