Boston man, 40, sentenced to 10 years in prison on racketeering, gun, drug charges

Malden Police detectives assisted in investigation of ‘Cameron Street’ — a violent Boston street gang

A 40-year-old Boston man was sentenced to 10 years in prison in federal court in Boston on Monday for his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang. Malden Police detectives participated in the investigation of the case, along with those from seven other communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as other agencies at the county, state and federal levels. Felisberto Lopes, also known as “Chee-B,” 40, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In November 2024, Lopes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise, possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and multiple counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

In May 2023, Lopes was one of 22 individuals named in a multi-count superseding indictment charging him and others with racketeering conspiracy, drug and firearms trafficking and other offenses. Lopes was identified as a member of Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in Dorchester that reportedly uses violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote fear and enhance its reputation. According to the charging documents, members use social media to promote Cameron Street and celebrate murders and other violent crimes committed by the gang, as well as denigrate rival gangs. Cameron Street members allegedly possess, carry and use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds. Cameron Street members also allegedly distribute controlled substances and firearms, commit armed robberies and engage in human trafficking in part to generate income for the Cameron Street enterprise.

During the investigation Lopes distributed several firearms as well as cocaine to a cooperating witness. On February 26, 2022, law enforcement responded to a shooting that took place at Lopes’ residence in Dorchester. During a search of his residence, a half kilogram of cocaine, over $25,000, two plastic bags containing crack cocaine, two scales with cocaine residue, a bag of oxycodone pills and over 400 rounds of various calibers of ammunition were seized. Lopes was taken into custody nearby.

Lopes had previously been convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and served a four-year state prison sentence.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The case announcement was made by the following: U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley; the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Boston Feld Division, Scott Riordan; the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division, Jarod A. Forget; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox. Valuable assistance was provided by the following: Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney’s Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell’Anno of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.