Two Arrested for Allegedly Using Stolen Identities to Rent Apartments Used for Drug Trafficking

BOSTON – A Taunton man and Boston woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to fraudulently rent two apartments under stolen identities to be utilized for drug trafficking activities. 

Terrence Pyrtle, a/k/a “Big T,” a/k/a “T,” a/k/a “big_t558,” 40, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of fentanyl and 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue; one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft; four counts of access device fraud; and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Following an initial appearance on April 20, 2023 before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal, Pyrtle was detained pending a hearing set for April 27, 2023.

Ashley Roostaie, a/k/a “Lola,” a/k/a “dropdeadlola,” 36, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft; four counts of access device fraud; and four counts of aggravated identity theft. Roostaie was released on conditions following an initial appearance before Magistrate Judge Boal on April 20, 2023.

According to the charging document, Pyrtle and Roostaie utilized the personal identification information (including Social Security number) of another individual to apply for and enter into lease agreements for two apartments in Braintree and Somerville, respectively. As part of their conspiracy, Pyrtle and Roostaie allegedly created an email account under the name of the individual’s identity that they had submitted in connection with the apartments as well as transmitted a purported driver’s license containing the individual’s name and some of their personal identification information, but depicting a different individual’s photograph. By placing the apartment leases under another individual’s personal identification information, Roostaie and Pyrtle were able to conceal their connection to and use of the apartments, which Pyrtle allegedly used to participate in a drug conspiracy involving distribution quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, fentanyl analogue and methamphetamine.

It is further alleged that Pyrtle and Roostaie used another individual’s personal identification information (including Social Security number) to obtain and use a prepaid debit card to make certain payments associated with each of the apartments. 

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charges of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams and more of cocaine, 400 grams and more of fentanyl, 100 grams and more of fentanyl analogue, and methamphetamine each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of access device fraud provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory two-year prison term consecutive to any term of imprisonment received on a predicate, substantive count, up to a one-year term of supervised release and a fine of up to $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.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Brockton, East Bridgewater, Bridgewater and Westport Police Departments and the Bristol County and Suffolk County Sheriff’s Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin R. O’Donnell of Rollins’ Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting 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 charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.