Bean Town Times

A Stoughton man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for his involvement in a drug trafficking organization that shipped parcels containing kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to various addresses throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The defendant was also sentenced for his role in a bank and wire fraud scheme related to COVID-19 pandemic relief funds.

Patrick Joseph, 42, received a sentence from U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of 138 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release. In March 2024, Joseph pled guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and cocaine base, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.

From February 2020 to May 2021, Joseph facilitated the transportation of 10-20 kilograms of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, eventually reaching Massachusetts via the U.S. Mail. Investigators found the cocaine concealed in two-kilogram quantities inside air fryers and locking cash boxes before being sent through the mail. The investigation led to searches of several drug stash locations and the seizure of dozens of kilograms of cocaine.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Joseph participated in a scheme defrauding a COVID-19 pandemic relief program known as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), created under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). Independent contractors were eligible for PPP loans processed by private financial institutions and fully guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Joseph's scheme obtained over $220,000 through fraudulent PPP loan applications submitted between April 2020 and April 2021. Alongside co-conspirator Yves Montima, Joseph submitted twelve fraudulent PPP loan applications at several financial institutions claiming non-existent independent contractor income substantiated by falsified tax documents. They received proceeds from these loans as well as kickback payments from individuals on whose behalf they submitted fraudulent applications.

In November 2021, Montima pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud conspiracy and was sentenced in September 2023.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division; Andrew Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service's Boston Field Office; Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox announced this case today. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division and Homeland Security Investigations provided valuable assistance with this investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Philip C. Cheng and Christopher Markham prosecuted this case as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation aimed at dismantling high-level criminal organizations threatening the United States using a prosecutor-led multi-agency approach.

The Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force on May 17, 2021, enhancing efforts against pandemic-related fraud by coordinating resources across government agencies.

For more information on reporting allegations of attempted COVID-19-related fraud: call National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721 or visit https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.