Springfield man, others face charges in North Quabbin drug trafficking ring

Staff Report

Published: 01-19-2024 5:19 PM

GREENFIELD — Josiah Cheeseboro, 24, of Springfield, was arraigned in Franklin County Superior Court on Thursday on several drug-related felony charges, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

Cheeseboro’s arrest at his Springfield residence on Jan. 16 follows a four-month investigation into a drug trafficking ring that allegedly transported large amounts of heroin/fentanyl and cocaine from Springfield to the North Quabbin region for street-level sales.

During the arrest, police discovered a large-capacity firearm, a large-capacity feeding device and ammunition. Cheeseboro will face additional charges related to those items in Hampden County, according to the DA’s office.

On Thursday, Cheeseboro pleaded not guilty before Franklin County Superior Court Judge John Agostini to charges of trafficking in a Class B substance (cocaine), trafficking in a Class A substance (fentanyl), and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug law. According to the DA’s office, Agostini ordered Cheeseboro held on $100,000 cash bail.

The Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force launched the investigation into the operation last September. In addition to the indictment of Cheeseboro, the investigation also resulted in indictments against the following five co-defendants, who are expected to be arraigned in the coming weeks:

■Romeo Frazier, 23, charged with trafficking in 36-100 grams of fentanyl; trafficking in 36-100 grams of cocaine; unlawful possession of a firearm; unlawful possession of a loaded firearm; use of a firearm during the commission of a felony; unlawful possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number during the commission of a felony; and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug law.

■Damian Scott, 19, charged with trafficking in 100-200 grams of cocaine and conspiracy to violate drug law.

■Tyshante Jennings, 21, charged with trafficking in 18-36 grams of cocaine; trafficking in 10 or more grams of fentanyl; and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug law.

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■Michael Nelson Page, 36, charged with trafficking in 100-200 grams of cocaine; trafficking in 36-100 grams of fentanyl; and two counts of conspiracy to violate drug law.

■A juvenile from Springfield is also being charged with possession of 200 bags of heroin/fentanyl.

Northwestern Assistant District Attorneys Joseph Webber and Aidan Lanciani prosecuted the case for the state. Cheeseboro was represented in court by defense attorney Robert Bray.