FORMER BOSTON CITY EMPLOYEE PLEADS GUILTY TO DRUG CHARGES
BOSTON, Mass.- United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Steven W. Derr, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England, today announced that JOHN M. FORBES pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns to one count of conspiracy to distribute Oxycontin and cocaine, one count of distribution of Oxycontin, and one count of distribution of cocaine.
At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that on Aug. 20, 2009, Forbes, 32, of East Boston, sold to a government cooperating witness 125 80 mg Oxycontin pills while Forbes was employed by the City of Boston as the East Boston neighborhood liaison. Additionally, on Dec. 16, 2009, Forbes conspired with Lawrence Taylor of Swampscott, to sell cocaine to the government cooperating witness. Taylor previously pleaded guilty for his role in the conspiracy and was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment on Aug. 18.
Judge Stearns scheduled sentencing for January 18, 2011. Forbes faces up to 20 years imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine, on each count.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey M. Cohen of Ortiz’s Public Corruption Unit.
