Former Quincy Man Arrested for Allegedly Distributing 10 Pounds of Methamphetamine

BOSTON – A former Quincy man currently residing in Las Vegas has been arrested in connection the distribution of methamphetamine.

Samuel Jean-Baptiste, a/k/a “Jett Black,” 38, was charged with one count of distribution of methamphetamine. Jean-Baptiste was arrested on May 30, 2024 and, following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston, was detained pending a hearing scheduled for June 6, 2024. 

According to the charging document, in early July 2023, Jean-Baptiste was identified as a significant distributor of controlled substances in the Boston area. A confidential source allegedly made three controlled purchases totally a combined 700 grams of fentanyl from Jean-Baptiste. It is alleged that in May 2024, Jean-Baptiste informed a second confidential source that he would soon be traveling from Las Vegas to Boston and discussed selling the source 10 pounds of methamphetamine in exchange for $32,000. It is further alleged that Jean-Baptiste also told the confidential source that he was having an associate in California ship the methamphetamine to Boston and that they could conduct the transaction at a gas station at Logan Airport – after which Jean-Baptiste would “disappear back into the airport” to travel back to Las Vegas. Jean-Baptiste was immediately apprehended upon arriving at the gas station, allegedly carrying a backpack that contained approximately 10 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.  

The charge of distribution of methamphetamine carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $1 million. 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.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case 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 charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.