SECOND CORRUPT OFFICER SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS

Boston, MA—The second of three veteran Boston Police officers convicted of conspiring to protect the sale of kilogram quantities of cocaine was sentenced today to 18 years in federal prison.

United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, Warren T. Bamford, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, New England Field Division and Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis, announced today that NELSON CARRASQUILLO, 36, formerly of 101Gallivan Blvd in Boston, Massachusetts, was sentenced today to 18 years incarceration and 5 years of supervised release for conspiring to protect at least 140 kilograms of cocaine in the spring and summer of 2006.

“Public corruption prosecutions like this reaffirm our commitment ensuring integrity in public service,” said U.S. Attorney Michael J. Sullivan. “We hold law enforcement officers to a high standard and if they engage in criminal conduct the consequences should be profound.”

On the first day of his trial on November 5, 2007, CARRASQUILLO admitted to conspiring with fellow officers Roberto Pulido and Carlos Pizarro to protect the transport and sale of kilogram quantities of cocaine between December 2005 and July 2006. Carrasquillo admitted that he assisted Pulido in protecting the transfer of 40 kilograms of cocaine on April 23, 2006, at a garage on Washington Street in Boston. Carrasquillo provided counter-surveillance and monitored Boston Police Department radio channels while the cocaine transaction took place inside the garage. After the transaction, Pulido and Carrasquillo were paid $20,000 for their assistance in the operation.

Carrasquillo also admitted that on June 8, 2006, he, Pulido and Pizarro guided a truck which they believed to be carrying 100 kilograms of cocaine—with an estimated wholesale value of more than $2 million—from western Massachusetts to the Washington Street garage. CARRASQUILLO then surveilled the perimeter of the area while a second truck came to the garage to pick up the cocaine. Unbeknownst to the three corrupt officers, the sellers and buyers of the cocaine in both instances were undercover federal agents who had the officers under investigation for months.

At a meeting on July 20, 2006, CARRASQUILLO and his two co-conspirators were paid $36,000—the balance due on a total payment of $51,000—for their assistance in guiding and protecting the cocaine. CARRASQUILLO and the other officers also agreed to protect an additional 1000 kilograms of cocaine and 5 kilograms of heroin. The officers were arrested in Miami by federal agents a short time after taking the $36,000 payment.

Co-conspirator Carlos Pizarro pleaded guilty on September 10, 2007. On December 12, 2007, Pizarro was sentenced to 13 years incarceration and five years of supervised release. On November 8, 2007, Pulido pleaded guilty to narcotics and a gun charge. Pulido will be sentenced on May 19, 2008.