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Malden Men Indicted For Weapons and $1M Drug Trafficking Operation

Posted on: June 24, 2013 - 12:13pm

MALDEN– A case that began with the investigation of a Malden-based drug trafficking operation that had allegedly distributed more than $1 million worth of marijuana has now resulted in the indictment of 11 men, including the alleged supplier in Northern California, Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan announced today.

 Several defendants are also charged with possession of illegal firearms, including an AP-9 assault weapon, a large capacity Glock semiautomatic pistol, a Smith & Wesson semiautomatic handgun that had been stolen from Yarmouth, and a .44 Magnum revolver.  Others are alleged to have been involved in the distribution of cocaine, methylenedioxy methamphetamine (also known as MDMA or “Ecstasy”) and phencyclidine (also known as PCP or “Angel Dust”).

The defendants were indicted by a Middlesex Grand Jury and will be arraigned today in Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn.

“This well focused investigation, which was conducted in a collaborative manner by a number of law enforcement agencies, has dismantled a criminal organization that was terrorizing the residents of Malden,” District Attorney Ryan said.  “I commend the work all of our partners in removing substantial quantities of guns and drugs from the streets of Malden as well as reaching and apprehending the California source of the drugs.”

Authorities launched an investigation in October 2012 into a drug organization that allegedly trafficked more than 400 pounds of marijuana into Malden from Northern California.  In March 2013, after search warrants were executed by Massachusetts State Police and Malden Police, seven defendants were arrested in Malden. 

Through the course of the ongoing investigation, additional evidence was obtained to support charges against three other defendants, who authorities allege were connected to the drug trafficking operation known as the Maplewood Organization. Finally, information was also obtained to execute an arrest warrant for a Northern California man who had allegedly shipped large quantities of marijuana to the Malden-based operation for distribution.

The 11 defendants indicted in this case are as follows:

  • Dat Tran, 23, of Malden is charged with possession of ammunition as an Armed Career Criminal, trafficking over 100 pounds of marijuana, and conspiracy to traffic over 100 pounds of marijuana, money laundering and conspiracy to launder money.
  • Reginald Miller, 20 of Malden is charged possession of a large capacity weapon during the commission of a felony, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number during the commission of a felony, possession of a large capacity feeding device, improper storage of a large capacity weapon, trafficking in marijuana over 100 lbs., possession of a firearm as an Armed Career Criminal, possession of ammunition as an Armed Career Criminal (six counts), breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony, attempt to commit a crime (larceny in a building), and conspiracy to traffic in marijuana over 100 lbs.
  • Daniel Knight, 23, of Malden is charged with possession of ammunition as an Armed Career Criminal, possession with intent to distribute a class B substance (subsequent offense), and receiving stolen property with a value over $250. 
  • Terrell Rollin-Sutton, 20, of Malden is charged with possession of a large capacity weapon, possession of a large capacity magazine, possession of ammunition, breaking and entering in the daytime with intent to commit a felony, attempt to commit a crime (larceny in a building) and possession with intent to distribute a class D substance.
  • Joshua Joyner, 21, of Malden is charged with trafficking marijuana over 100 pounds and conspiracy to traffic marijuana over 100 pounds.
  • Brendan Joyner, 20, of Malden is charged with possession of firearm with a defaced serial number, improper storage of a firearm, possession of ammunition, and possession of a class B substance.
  • Deandre West, 21, of Malden is charged with breaking and entering daytime for a felony, conspiracy to commit breaking and entering, and wanton destruction of property. 
  • Andy Huynh, 29, of Union City, Calif., is charged with trafficking in marijuana over 100 pounds, conspiracy to traffic marijuana over 100 pounds, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. 
  • HerschelSenor, 35, of Medford, is charged with possession with intent to distribute a Class B drug (phencyclidine) and a drug violation in a school zone.
  • James Randall, 23, of Malden was charged with conspiracy to distribute a Class B drug (cocaine), conspiracy to distribute a Class B drug (MDMA), conspiracy to distribute marijuana, and solicitation to commit a felony (possession of a firearm).
  • Kendrick Leon, 21, of Malden, is charged with conspiracy to traffic marijuana over 100 pounds.

Tran, Knight, Rollin-Sutton, West, Joshua Joyner, and Brendan Joyner were arraigned March 28 in Malden District Court and held on cash bail ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.  Miller was arraigned March 28 and was held without bail. They will all be arraigned June 24 in Middlesex Superior Court. 

Randall was arraigned June 21 in Middlesex Superior Court where Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered him held on $20,000 cash bail.  Randall’s bail on two pending cases in Malden District Court was revoked.  Leon and Senor will be arraigned June 24 in Middlesex Superior Court.

Huynh will be arraigned in California and extradited to Massachusetts to face these charges.

In October 2012 State Police Detectives assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, working with Malden Police and the United States Postal Inspectors, launched an investigation into the Maplewood Organization, a Malden-based group allegedly involved in interstate drug trafficking.

On Oct. 27, 2012, police intercepted a package for the organization that contained more than 12 pounds of high grade marijuana that had been carefully packaged and sealed into one pound quantities for distribution.  Police identified 50 such packages that had been sent through the mail en route to the Maplewood organization.

In total, the organization is alleged to have trafficked at least 400 pounds of marijuana into Massachusetts, with a street value of more than $1 million.

On March 23, 2013, U.S. Postal Inspectors seized another shipment of marijuana en route to the Maplewood Operation.  When the drugs did not arrive, defendants Reginald Miller, Terrell Rollin-Sutton and DeAndreWest, believing the drugs had been stolen, are alleged to have broken into the home of Miller’s neighbor in search of the missing drugs.  Miller was arrested that evening and charged with breaking and entering.  Shortly thereafter, State Police detectives and Malden police executed several search warrants and arrested six other individuals in connection to this drug trafficking operation.

Following the execution of multiple search warrants, police recovered:

  • 9 mm AP-9 assault weapon with defaced serial number
  • .44 Magnum Ruger Super Blackhawk revolver with defaced serial number
  • .22 caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic pistol
  • .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol
  • .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol
  • 9 mm Kel-Tec semi-automatic pistol
  • Large quantities of ammunition
  • Illegal large capacity magazines
  • Marijuana
  • Drug packaging materials and digital scales
  • Thousands of dollars in U.S. currency
  • Bullet proof vest

None of the defendants is licensed to carry a firearm.

Through the investigation, officials learned that Huyn hwas allegedly facilitating the drug trafficking from Union City, California.  A search warrant was executed and Union City Police and federal DEA agents records and digital evidence connecting Huynh to the drug packages that had been sent from California to Malden. Huynh was arrested June 22 in Union City, California.

These charges are allegations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, United States Postal Inspectors, Malden Police and the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The following agencies assisted in the investigation: San Jose Office of the DEA, Union City (California) Police, Saugus Police, Lynn Police, Homeland Security Investigators, Essex District Attorney’s Office, MBTA Transit police, and the State Police Gang Unit.

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