9 Arraigned in Major Framingham Drug Trafficking Case

Nine individuals  were arraigned in Woburn Superior Court in connection with the May 1 arrests of members of a major drug trafficking ring operating out of Framingham and their Boston-based suppliers, said Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Framingham Police Chief Kenneth Ferguson in a press release.

The defendants were arraigned in Woburn Superior Court before Clerk Magistrate Matthew Day.  Charges and bails were as follows:

• Robert Hairston, 33, of Framingham, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, trafficking in cocaine over 100 grams, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, money laundering, possession of an electrical weapon, conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 200 grams, conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 100 grams, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and being a habitual criminal (six counts).  Hairston was held without bail.
  Calvin Hodge, 31, of Framingham, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 100 grams, possession of a firearm (two counts), possession of ammunition (three counts), possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (two counts), conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 100 grams, and being an armed career criminal (five counts).  Hodge was held on a $20,000 cash bail.
• Christine Williams, 23, of Framingham, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, and conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 200 grams.  Williams posted a $1,000 cash bail.
•  Stephanie Reesor, 34, of Framingham, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 100 grams, trafficking in cocaine over 18 grams, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, subsequent offense, conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 200 grams, conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 100 grams, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Reesor posted a $2500 cash bail.
• Cheniel Garcia, 27, of Worcester, was charged with distribution of cocaine (three counts), conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 200 grams, and a drug violation near a school/park (two counts).  Garcia was held on a $20,000 cash bail.
•  Norma Hairston, 50, of Marlborough, was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, subsequent offense, money laundering, conspiracy to traffick in cocaine over 200 grams, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  Norma Hairston was released on personal recognizance.
• Nasean Johnson, 30, of Boston, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 100 grams, distribution of cocaine, subsequent offense, and conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 100 grams.  Johnson posted a $20,000 cash bail.
• Carl Jones, 32, of Boston, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.  Jones was held on a $20,000 cash bail.
• Mark Perkins, 35, of Boston, was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 100 grams, distribution of cocaine, subsequent offense, and conspiracy to traffick cocaine over 100 grams.  Perkins was held on a $50,000 cash bail.

 All nine defendants are scheduled to attend a pre-trial conference on July 24 at 9 a.m.

“We allege that these defendants, some of whom were armed with illegal firearms, moved large quantities of cocaine into Middlesex County, and sold powder and crack cocaine on our streets and near athletic fields and playgrounds,” said District Attorney Marian Ryan.  “This type of activity threatens the safety and security of our communities and exploits the weakness of some of our most vulnerable citizens, including people struggling with addiction and those in recovery.  Particularly troubling in this case was this organization’s willingness to use a child to further their scheme, concealing drugs – more than 100 grams of cocaine - under the car seat of a one year-old, where the child had the potential to access the drugs.  Again, I want to commend the partnership that was the key to this investigation and led to these arrests which included State Police, Framingham Police and Natick Police.” 

“District Attorney Ryan and her staff have always had a great relationship with local police working in a collaborative fashion,” said Framingham Chief Ferguson. “This is another example of us working together with the State Police on a high impact drug investigation to stem trafficking in this region involving a number of high risk individuals”

According to authorities, they received information regarding a Framingham-based crack cocaine operation, which led them to begin an investigation.  Subsequently, prosecutors applied for wiretap warrants that would allow them to monitor telephone communications.  The police then used those wiretaps to allegedly identify the organization’s membership, structure, and the identities of their cocaine suppliers.

On April 18, Christine Williams was arrested by State Police in Natick with more than 240 grams of cocaine concealed on her person and hidden in the car seat of a one year-old child.  She was arraigned in the Framingham District Court and charged with trafficking over 200 grams of cocaine.  Her bail was set at $10,000 cash, which was posted on her behalf by another party.

It is alleged that at the time of her arrest Christine Williams was moving the cocaine on behalf of the Hairston Organization, and that it was intended to be brought to Robert Hairston, other members of his organization, and Calvin Hodge.  Prosecutors allege that the $10,000 cash posted on Christine Williams’ behalf was actually drug money, earned by her codefendants by selling crack and powder cocaine.   

On May 1, state police, local police and federal agents executed more than a dozen search warrants at suspected drug locations in Framingham, Marlborough, Natick, Dorchester, Roxbury, Allston, and Worcester.

The search warrants allegedly resulted in the seizure of more than 1,400 grams of cocaine, four illegal firearms, more than one hundred rounds of ammunition of various calibers, two illegal stun guns, thousands of dollars in cash, numerous vehicles, and in the arrest of eight alleged members of the organization.

The seizures are described in more detail below:

• At 1585 Concord Street, in Framingham, police arrested Robert Hairston and recovered approximately 24 individually wrapped bags of crack cocaine and $5000 in cash.  At another Hairston residence in Framingham, they recovered a Monster 7800KVS stun gun.
• At 2 Murray Hill Road, Framingham, MA, the residence of Calvin Hodge, police arrested Hodge and recovered, from two safes, approximately 112 grams of cocaine, a .40 caliber Hi-Point semiautomatic pistol, a .22 caliber Jennings J22 semiautomatic pistol, more than one hundred rounds of .38 caliber, .40 caliber and .22 caliber ammunition, thousands of dollars in cash, digital scales, drug packaging materials, latex gloves, and a surgical mask.
• At 739 Waverly St., Apt. 2, Framingham, the residence of Stephanie Reesor, police arrested Reesor and recovered approximately 70 individually wrapped pieces of cocaine with a total weight of more than 25 grams, hidden on her person.
• At 1399 Commonwealth Avenue, Apt. 15, Allston, the residence of Mark Perkins, police arrested Perkins and recovered more than 1200 grams of cocaine that Perkins had attempted to throw out a bathroom window, as well as a 9 mm bullet, and a stun gun. 
• At 38 Fox Street, Apt. 2, Worcester, the residence of Cheniel “Biggie” Garcia, police arrested Garcia and recovered a .45 caliber handgun with a defaced serial number, a .380 caliber handgun, ammunition for both weapons, and approximately 48 grams of crack cocaine.

A Middlesex Grand Jury returned indictments against these defendants in June.  These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.            

The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, Framingham Police, and Natick Police, with assistance from Boston Police, Worcester Police, Homeland Security Investigations Strike Force, and DEA Strike Force.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys David Solet, Stephen Gilpatric and Christopher Tarrant.