Cambridge Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Drug Distribution Conspiracy and Possession of Firearms

BOSTON – A Cambridge man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for federal drug and firearm charges. 

Ahsan Arty, a/k/a/ “Hass,” 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In May 2023, Arty pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, and conspiracy to possess and use firearms during and in relation to a drug offense. 

In February 2021, Arty conspired to sell crack cocaine to an undercover officer and was captured on recording brokering the drug deal. Intercepted communications revealed that Arty also conspired with others to distribute cocaine.

In August 2021, Arty travelled to California as part of a promotional music tour for an associate. While in California, Arty went to the residence of another associate and stole approximately four kilograms of cocaine. Text messages recovered during the investigation showed that Arty sent the kilograms of cocaine to Massachusetts and later began distributing them upon his return. 

In December 2021, Arty and another man traveled to Lawrence to rob an individual who they suspected of having drugs and valuables in their residence. During this incident, Arty was armed with a handgun. They entered the residence and pistol-whipped one of the individuals and demanded the whereabouts of drugs and cash. Ultimately, the drugs and cash were not present. Arty was identified through surveillance video of the vehicle utilized in the incident and text messages proved his involvement.

In February 2022, Arty and two other accomplices broke into the residence of an individual in Everett that he suspected of having drugs and cash. The individual was not present. While inside the residence, Arty stole car keys and luxury brand clothing and recorded a livestream video that he published on the internet. Following the break-in, the victim posted a video online with jewelry and cash suggesting that the break-in was poorly executed. The next morning, after viewing the video, associates of Arty attempted to break-in and rob the victim at the same apartment and multiple rounds of gunfire were discharged during the incident. According to text messages recovered in the case, Arty came to pick up the robbers and ultimately taking them on a high-speed chase from responding law enforcement. The vehicle was later located and impounded. Text messages also captured Arty and the robbers developing an alibi for the vehicle’s use in the robbery and chase. 

In April 2022, Arty was arrested outside of a Boston nightclub due to a report of him having a firearm. When law enforcement responded to the scene, Arty drove his vehicle at the officers and struck a nearby vehicle. Arty and another passenger were immediately taken into custody. Two firearms, including a 9mm firearm that was equipped with a selector switch, rendering it capable of firing fully automatic, were located in Arty’s vehicle. It was learned during the investigation that the target of the February 2022 burglary and robbery was believed to be inside of the nightclub and that Arty was outside of the premises waiting for an opportunity to rob him as he exited.

At the time of the offense, Arty was on pretrial release for multiple pending state firearm offenses. These included a January 2019 arrest for possessing a firearm in Boston and a July 2019 arrest for possessing a firearm in Revere. During the Revere incident, Arty fled the scene of an accident and later attempted to flee law enforcement. 

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin R. Hayden; Middlesex County District Attorney Marian T. Ryan; Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow; Everett Police Chief Steven A Mazzie; Lawrence Acting Police Chief William Castro; and Revere Police Chief David J. Callahan made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.