Member of Violent Gang Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Racketeering, Drug and Firearm Offenses

Press Release

Defendant assaulted rival gang member; drugs, firearm seized from stash house in Hingham

BOSTON - A Boston man was sentenced today in connection with his role in Cameron Street, a violent Boston gang.

Paulo Santos, a/k/a "Bucky," 35, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 years in prison and four years of supervised release. In January 2024, Santos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise (commonly referred to as RICO conspiracy), possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

According to court documents, Cameron Street is a violent gang based largely in the Dorchester section of Boston that uses violence and threats of violence to preserve, protect and expand its territory, promote a climate of fear and enhance its reputation. Cameron Street members possess, carry and use firearms to murder and assault gang rivals as well as protect narcotics and drug proceeds.

As part of his role in the gang, Santos and another Cameron Street member assaulted and robbed a rival gang member outside the Dorchester District Court on Dec. 6, 2019. In a video posted on Snapchat later that day, Santos identified the victim as a rival gang member, chased him, and shouted to another Cameron Street member, "Get him!" On the video, the victim shielded his face while he was punched and kicked repeatedly. Santos and the other Cameron Street member then robbed the victim of his sneakers and took them as a trophy. The video included captions that praised Cameron Street and denigrated the victim's gang.

At the time of Santos' arrest, approximately 900 grams of cocaine, 500 grams of marijuana, a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver and $15,597 in cash were seized from his stash house in Hingham.

This is Santos' third firearm conviction. For his last unlawful possession of a firearm conviction, Santos served a four-to-five-year state prison sentence.

This operation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations. 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.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Suffolk County Sheriff's Office; Suffolk, Plymouth, Norfolk and Bristol County District Attorney's Offices; and the Canton, Quincy, Randolph, Somerville, Brockton, Malden, Stoughton, Rehoboth and Pawtucket (R.I.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Charles Dell'Anno of the Criminal Division prosecuted the case.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.

Updated May 9, 2024