3 charged with hiding drugs in children's toys, shipping them to Mass.
BOSTON - Three people were indicted for allegedly hiding drugs in children's toys and shipping the toys from Arizona to Massachusetts.
Denise Guyette, 29, of Woonsocket, R.I.; Gerardo Garza, a/k/a "Oso," 47, of Yuma, Ariz.; and Nathan Boddie, 38, of Pawtucket, R.I. were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances. The two men and woman were arrested last week by authorities in three different states — Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and California.
Guyette was arrested in Boston on Feb. 8 where authorities seized approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine and "thousands" of suspected fentanyl pills. She was detained following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston as well.
Bodie was arrested on Feb. 6 in Rhode Island during a traffic stop where authorities seized a 9mm ghost gun handgun, a 10-round capable magazine with one loaded round, and a bag of 20 grams of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine which he allegedly tried to swallow during the stop.
Garza was arrested on Feb. 10 in southern California where he was detained and is awaiting a detention hearing.
Both Garza and Bodie are awaiting federal court appearances in Boston.
"All three individuals we've removed from the street are accused of being prolific drug dealers who thrived on selling drugs and believed they could pull the wool over the eyes of investigators by hiding their product inside toys and other common household items," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division.
Authorities say that Guyette, Garza, and Boddie conspired with others to hide illegal drugs, including methamphetamine, fentanyl pills, and cocaine, in toy trucks, Halloween decorations, and Disney toys, mailing them from Arizona to Massachusetts.
Over 16 pounds of methamphetamine and 700 grams of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl were seized by authorities during the investigation.
From May 2022 to October 2022, investigators seized seven packages with "a total of over 900 grams of methamphetamine, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, as well as suspected Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a very strong psychedelic," the office of U.S.Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement.
"Drug trafficking frequently intersects with illegal firearms and other criminal conduct. This instance proved no different. Ghost guns were seized as well as a 3-D printer we allege was used to print ghost gun parts. It is our contention that this seizure likely saved countless lives," Rollins said.
