Springfield Man Sentenced for Heroin Distribution

BOSTON – A Springfield man was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Springfield for distribution of heroin.

Hector Pabon, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to seven years in prison and six years of supervised release. In June 2015, Pabon pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin.  

Pabon was arrested and charged in April 2014 for distributing heroin in Hampden County.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Boston Field Office, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office prosecuted the case.

Everett Resident Who Sent Explosive Powder to more than a Dozen Washington DC Area Locations Charged in Federal Court

Tracking Information on Packages leads to Arrest

A 43-year-old Everett resident made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court today charged by criminal complaint with shipping of explosive materials, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. THANH CONG PHAN, was arrested Monday March 26, 2018 after a number of packages containing small amounts of black explosive powder were received at various mail-screening locations in the Washington DC area.  The mailings were addressed to the White House, the FBI, and various government and military installations.  The investigation to locate and isolate all of the packages is ongoing.  No packages have exploded or caused any injuries.

PHAN became a suspect in the case when a U.S. Postal Service inspector traced the tracking information on one of the packages to the Mill Creek, Washington post office self-service kiosk.  Surveillance photos from the time of the mailing appeared to show PHAN. Writings contained in the package were also similar to previous correspondence from PHAN to various government agencies.  PHAN had been known to police previously because of the writings, and due to frequent contact with the 9-1-1 emergency dispatch system.  PHAN was taken into custody without incident.

Shipping of explosive materials is punishable by up to ten years in prison.

The charges contained in the complaint are only allegations.  A person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The case is being investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Secret Service.

Boston Man Sentenced for Two Bank Robberies

BOSTON – A Boston man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for robbing a branch of the RTN Federal Credit Union in Brookline and a branch of the Mansfield Bank in West Bridgewater in November 2016. 

Stephen D. Williams, 56, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Mark. L. Wolf to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2287 in restitution. In December 2017, Williams pleaded guilty to two counts of bank robbery.

On Nov. 15, 2016, two individuals, one later identified as Williams, and the other later identified as Joseph Morris, entered a branch of the RTN Federal Credit Union in Brookline. Williams approached a teller and demanded cash. The teller handed Williams cash from her drawer and Williams and Morris exited the bank and fled the area in a dark-colored Volkswagen.

On Nov. 22, 2016, an individual, later identified as Williams, entered a branch of the Mansfield Bank in West Bridgewater. Williams gestured that he had a firearm and demanded the tellers give him the bank’s money. The teller handed Williams cash, and Williams fled the area again in a dark-colored Volkswagen. Bank surveillance cameras recorded images of Williams during the robbery.

On Nov. 23, 2016, law enforcement officers familiar with both Williams and Morris located the dark-colored Volkswagen and arrested the two men at an apartment complex in Brockton.

Morris was charged in state court with the robbery of the RTN Federal Credit Union in Brookline and was sentenced to eight-to-10 years in jail.  

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; U.S. Marshal John Gibbons of the District of Massachusetts; Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey; West Bridgewater Police Chief Victor R. Flaherty Jr.; Brookline Acting Police Chief Mark P. Morgan; and Brockton Police Chief John Crowley made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth G. Shine of Lelling’s Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.