Associate Of Violent Gang Pleads Guilty To Drug And Firearms Trafficking Charges

BOSTON - A Brockton man associated with Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang, has pleaded guilty to drug and firearms trafficking charges.

Steve Depina, age 37, pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine and cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Feb. 25, 2025.

During the investigation, Depina was identified as an older associate of the Cameron Street gang who had a history of drug trafficking. In 2018, Depina was convicted in Plymouth Superior Court of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl and was sentenced to 3-5 years in prison.

Depina was recorded as he distributed cocaine and cocaine base to a cooperating witness. Depina also sold a cooperating witness a 9-millimeter firearm and 16 rounds of ammunition. On Aril 15, 2022, during a search of his residence, another firearm and an additional quantity of cocaine base was seized from Depina.

According to court documents, Cameron Street, a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect, and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear, and enhance its reputation.

The charge of distribution of cocaine and cocaine base provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

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.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the 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 Levy's Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

The remaining defendants named in the indictment are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.