- Office of Attorney General Maura Healey
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Jillian Fennimore
Boston — A Danvers couple and four other individuals from Ipswich have been indicted in connection with allegedly running an organized criminal network that distributed large amounts of heroin and fentanyl in the North Shore area, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.
The six defendants were indicted Monday by a Statewide Grand Jury on the following charges:
Richard Castillo (a.k.a. Luis Santana) age 30, of Danvers
- Distribution of a Class A Substance, Heroin (one count),
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance, Fentanyl (one count),
- Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act (one count),
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance, Heroin (one count).
Ilona Castillo, age 27, of Danvers
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance, Fentanyl (one count),
- Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act (one count),
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance, Heroin (one count).
John Eaton, age 30, of Ipswich
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance, Fentanyl (one count),
- Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act (one count).
Samantha Pike, age 26, of Ipswich
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance, Fentanyl (one count),
- Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act (one count).
Brett Eglin, age 26, of Ipswich
- Possession of a Class B Substance, Fentanyl (one count),
- Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act (one count).
Gary Collum, age 50, of Ipswich
- Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance, Fentanyl (one count),
- Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act (one count).
“We allege that these defendants were running a heroin and fentanyl distribution network that was putting these deadly drugs on the streets of the North Shore,” said AG Healey. “We are losing four people a day to the heroin and opioid crisis. Our office is committed to working with law enforcement to combat this epidemic and will aggressively prosecute those who bring these lethal drugs into our communities and into the hands of those struggling with addiction.”
Richard Castillo, Eaton, Eglin, Collum and Pike were arrested in Ipswich on Dec. 29. Ilona Castillo was arrested on Dec. 29 in Danvers. All six defendants were arrested by State Police assigned to the AG’s Office with assistance from Ipswich Police.
The defendants will be arraigned at a later date in Essex Superior Court.
The AG’s Office began an investigation in May 2015 in conjunction with members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency Task Force and the Ipswich Police Department.
“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in Massachusetts and throughout New England,” said Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Division (DEA) Michael J. Ferguson. “Fentanyl and heroin are causing overdose deaths across the Commonwealth in record numbers, and DEA is committed to bring to justice those that distribute these lethal drugs. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in Massachusetts to aggressively pursue anyone who traffics these drugs.”
“These six individuals are alleged to have been distributing a high volume of deadly drugs into the neighborhoods of Ipswich and into our surrounding North Shore communities,” said Ipswich Police Chief Nikas. “I am very proud of my officers for being involved in this collaborative effort with the AG's Office and DEA. This level of cooperation and trust between the AG's Office, DEA and local officers is essential in combating illicit drug trade and I would like to thank AG Healy and SAC Ferguson for their commitment to the communities on the North Shore.”
Authorities executed multiple search warrants on Dec. 29, first at an Ipswich residence linked to Pike and Collum where they seized two bags of drugs later determined to contain fentanyl, a ledger, scales and cash. State Police and Ipswich Police executed a search warrant at a second Ipswich residence and seized one bag of a controlled substance, later determined to be fentanyl. During the execution of a search warrant later that day at the Castillos’ home, authorities seized multiple bags of heroin and fentanyl and $75,000 in cash.
Authorities allege that the Castillos ran a drug distribution network in the North Shore and Eglin, Collum, Pike and Eaton were their distributors.
These charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Shortly before taking office, AG Healey announced the formation of an internal AG’s task force to more aggressively combat the heroin and prescription drug abuse crisis in Massachusetts. AG Healey has vowed to use a multi-faceted approach to educate prescribers, pursue illegal drug traffickers and pill mills, and expand access to recovery and treatment programs.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Gina Kwon, of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division, and Assistant Attorney General Patrick Hanley, Chief of AG Healey’s Gaming Enforcement Division, with assistance from Investigator Daniel DeAngelis, of the AG’s Financial Investigations Division, Victim Witness Advocate John Malone, of the AG’s Victim Witness Services Division, investigators from the AG’s Digital Evidence Lab and the Essex County District Attorney’s Office. The case was investigated by State Police assigned to the AG’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Boston Police Department, the Ipswich Police Department and the Danvers Police Department.
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