GREENFIELD — A woman authorities say was involved with a cocaine trafficking syndicate that had allegedly been operating out of a Greenfield barbershop pleaded not guilty in Franklin County Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon, while a man allegedly involved had his bail reduced to $100,000.
Britney Porcino, 28, of Millers Falls, appeared before Judge Francis Flannery, who released her on personal recognizance. She faces a charge of conspiracy to violate drug laws and is due back in court for a pretrial hearing in June.
Jason Nadeau, 40, of Ludlow, had pleaded not guilty on Friday to trafficking in cocaine (200 grams or more) and conspiracy to violate drug laws. His bail had been set at $300,000 cash or $500,000 surety, a figure that was lowered on Tuesday.
Porcino and Nadeau were among the dozen Pioneer Valley residents who were arrested following a seven-month investigation by more than a dozen law enforcement agencies. According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, brothers Daniel G. Rice, of Hatfield, and Brandon M. Rice, of West Springfield, were the alleged leaders of the trafficking group. Daniel Rice owned and operated Dapper Dan’s Barbershop on Chapman Street in Greenfield, a location the DA’s office believes was a part of the alleged operation. The barbershop is no longer open.
Those arrested were arraigned in Greenfield District Court before the cases were transferred to Franklin County Superior Court due to their severity.
Chief Trial Counsel Jeremy Bucci, who is prosecuting these cases, told Flannery that Nadeau’s criminal history is “quite storied.” He said Nadeau has numerous court defaults on his record and a noticeable gap in the defaults is explained by his incarceration during a 10- to 12-year sentence for trafficking in cocaine. This sentence ran concurrently with sentences for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and for cocaine distribution.
Bucci also reminded Flannery that Nadeau broke a Springfield Police officer’s neck by driving a car at him while trying to evade police capture following the investigation. According to Bucci, police recovered 4 kilograms of cocaine and $30,000 in cash at Nadeau’s residence.
Nadeau’s defense attorney, Dan Kelly, asked Flannery to set bail at $15,000 and said his client would be agreeable to any conditions of release. He acknowledged Nadeau’s previous defaults but said his client is incentivized to show up to court because he has a 12-year mandatory sentence hanging over his head. He also has a 3-month-old child, a wife and a home. According to Kelly, Nadeau does not have the assets to pay significant bail.
Kelly argued that Brandon Rice, who faces the same charges as Nadeau, was ordered held on $5,000 bail, and Daniel Rice, who faces the same charges in addition to a charge of possession or transportation of a monetary instrument for money laundering, had his bail set at $30,000. Flannery acknowledged these facts, but said Nadeau’s history of defaults makes him a “serious flight risk.”
Nadeau is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on June 29.
Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 262.