Co-Conspirators Sentenced for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Press Release

Defendants were members of a widespread North Shore drug trafficking organization alleged to have distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit pills containing deadly narcotics

BOSTON - Two men were sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for participating in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) that allegedly distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Christopher Nagle, 30, of Revere and Isaac Clayton, 77, of Lynn were sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV. Christopher Nagle was sentenced to 139 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Clayton was sentenced to two months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, with the first six months to be served in home confinement. In February 2024, Clayton pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. In April 2024, Christopher Nagle pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.

According to court documents, the DTO distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, among other things, to various individuals in the Lynn area.

Christopher Nagle, and allegedly his brother Lawrence Michael Nagle, were identified as leaders of a DTO distributing various controlled substances throughout the North Shore region of Massachusetts. It is alleged that the Nagle DTO distributed significant quantities of various controlled substances, including, Adderall (both pharmaceutical-grade pills and counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine), methamphetamine, Xanax, Oxycodone (both pharmaceutical-grade and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl), cocaine and marijuana, among others.

A search of Christopher Nagle's apartment recovered more than 74,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, weighing more than 24 kilograms.

As part of the conspiracy, Clayton stored various controlled substances including marijuana, cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine) and counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl at his apartment on behalf of the DTO. A search of his apartment in October 2022 resulted in the seizure of various quantities of marijuana, cocaine base and fentanyl, as well as three loaded firearms, additional rounds of ammunition, $2,640 in drug proceeds and materials used to package and distribute controlled substances.

Lawrence Michael Nagle has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial on Jan. 6, 2024.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Beverly, Everett, Peabody, Revere, Salem, Saugus and Swampscott Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan D. Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. 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 details contained in the indictment are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Updated August 14, 2024