Police Wiretap Investigation Reveals Major Drug Organization

Originally published at 11:07 p.m. on May 2. Updated with arraignment info.

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A case that began with an investigation of a Framingham-based crack cocaine operation has led to the identification and arrest of major drug traffickers in Middlesex, Suffolk and Worcester counties, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced Friday, May 2.

After months of police investigation, prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Office applied for search warrants to obtain telephone wiretap authority, then used those wiretaps to identify the organization’s membership, structure, and the identities of their suppliers.

 The investigation came to a head early Thursday morning, when 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 resulted in the seizure of more than 1,400 grams of cocaine, illegal firearms and ammunition, thousands of dollars in cash, and numerous vehicles that had been used by the organization to transport cocaine.  Eight alleged members of the organization were charged on Thursday with offenses including cocaine trafficking, possession of illegal firearms, conspiracy and money laundering, and were arraigned in the Framingham District Court before Judge Robert Greco. 

 “This investigation, which started in the streets of Framingham, has now exposed major drug traffickers in three counties, and has taken a huge volume of illegal drugs and dangerous weapons out of the hands of criminals and off of our streets.  We will continue to do what we can to help people in the throes of drug addiction to regain control of their lives, but we will not tolerate criminal drug traffickers who attempt to profit from the misery of others.  I want to congratulate the State Police, Framingham Police, and Natick Police, the troopers, and detectives, and all the agents and officers who assisted them, who worked tirelessly to gather evidence against this organization, and who today have taken a major step toward dismantling their criminal enterprise," said the District Attorney.

Police say Robert Hairston was the leader. His mother Norma Hairston allegedly was the group’s money person, reported WBZ-TV.

Norma Hairston also works in case management at South Middlesex Opportunity Council, a group that runs residential drug treatment programs.

 The seizures are described in more detail below:

•  At 1585 Concord Street, Apt. C201, police arrested Robert Hairston and recovered approximately 20 grams of crack cocaine, a quantity of marijuana, and $5000 in cash.
• 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 20 grams, hidden on her person.
• At 1399 Commonwealth Avenue, Apt. 15, Allston, MA, the residence of Mark Perkins, police arrested Perkins and recovered approximately one kilogram (1000 grams) of cocaine that Perkins had attempted to throw out a window, a 9 mm bullet, and an electrical weapon. 
• 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, approximately 50 grams of crack cocaine, and multiple cellular telephones.
• At 2 Murray Hill Road, Framingham, MA, the residence of Calvin Hodge, police arrested Hodge and recovered, from two safes, a .40 caliber Hi-Point handgun, a .22 caliber handgun, approximately 8 loose rounds of .38 caliber ammunition, approximately 13 loose rounds of .40 caliber ammunition, approximately 97 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition, approximately 125 grams of cocaine, approximately $5000 in cash, digital scales, drug packaging material, latex gloves, and a surgical mask.

On April 18, 2014, Christine Williams was arrested in State Police in Natick with 125 grams of cocaine concealed on her person, and another 125 grams of cocaine hidden in the car seat of a 1 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.

Yesterday prosecutors alleged that there was a link between Christine Williams and other members of the conspiracy, and that the $10,000 cash posted on Christine Williams’ behalf was actually drug money, earned by her codefendants by selling crack and powder cocaine.  A court ordered the bail money to be seized and Christine Williams to be returned to custody.

It is alleged that at the time of her arrest Christine Williams was moving the cocaine on behalf of the Hairston Organization, that the cocaine had been supplied by Carl Jones, and that it was intended to be brought to Robert Hairston, other members of his organization, and Calvin Hodge.   

The nine defendants currently charged as a result of the investigation are as follows:

• Robert Hairston, 33, of Framingham, is charged with trafficking over 200 grams of cocaine; trafficking over 100 grams of cocaine; trafficking over 18 grams of cocaine, all as a habitual criminal; distribution of cocaine as a subsequent offender; conspiracy; and money laundering.  Bail was set by the court at $10,000 cash.

• Stephanie Reesor, 34, of Framingham, is charged with trafficking over 100 grams of cocaine, trafficking over 18 grams of cocaine, distribution of cocaine as a subsequent offender, and conspiracy.  Bail was set by the court at $2,500 cash.

• Cheniel Garcia, 34, of Worcester, is charged with distribution of cocaine, school zone violation, and conspiracy.  Additional charges have been sought in Worcester District Court for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of ammunition, and trafficking in cocaine over 36 grams.  Bail was set by the court at $20,000 cash.

• Norma Hairston, 50, of Marlborough, is charged with distribution of cocaine as a subsequent offender, money laundering, and conspiracy.  She was released by the court on personal recognizance.

• Carl Jones, 33, of Dorchester, was charged with conspiracy to traffic cocaine.  Bail was set by the court at $50,000 cash.

• Calvin Hodge, 31, of Framingham, was charged with trafficking over 100 grams of cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm as an armed career criminal, possession of ammunition, and conspiracy.  Bail was set by the court at $10,000 cash.

• Nasean Johnson, 30, of Roxbury, was charged with trafficking over 100 grams of cocaine, distribution of cocaine as a subsequent offender, and conspiracy.  Bail was set by the court at $20,000 cash.

• Mark Perkins, 35, of Allston, was charged with trafficking over 100 grams of cocaine, distribution of cocaine as a subsequent offender, and conspiracy.  Additional charges will be sought in Suffolk County for trafficking over 200 grams, possession of ammunition as an armed career criminal, and possession of an electrical weapon.  Bail was set by the court at $50,000 cash.

• Christine Williams, 23, of Framingham, was arraigned on April 18, 2014 in Framingham District Court and charged with trafficking cocaine over 200 grams.  Her bail was initially set at $10,000, but was reduced yesterday by the court to $1,000 cash. 

 All 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.