RI Man Nets Feds Another Guilty Plea In Cape Cod Drug Conspiracy Case

BOSTON, MA — A Rhode Island man is the latest to enter a guilty plea in relation to a violent kidnapping conspiracy tied to a drug trafficking ring on Cape Cod, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts announced this week.

Anthony Basilici, 39, pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, witness retaliation and weapons possession on Thursday. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7, and Basilici faces a lengthy prison sentence on the conspiracy to commit kidnapping charge alone, which can carry up to a life sentence.

These charges are tied to two cases. The first is a "wide-ranging" heroin trafficking conspiracy in the Cape Cod area. The second is a 2019 kidnapping in which members law enforcement describe as part of a "drug cell" lured a man to Rhode Island, stripped him naked, assaulted him and threatened to rape him.

"The defendant’s conduct is nothing short of horrifying," said United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins.

"Mr. Basilici actively and willingly participated in a violent scheme to kidnap, beat and terrorize a victim who he wrongly believed was working with law enforcement. Additionally, he possessed a firearm for the purpose of facilitating the heroin trafficking conspiracy that he was involved in."

Basilici is one of 12 people charges in this case, some of whom have already pled to charges and received sentences.

According to court documents, in 2019, law enforcement began investigating a Cape Cod drug trafficking organization, allegedly led by Edwin Otero. It is alleged that Otero and his co-conspirators distributed large quantities of heroin throughout Cape Cod, including Hyannis, Mashpee, Centerville and Osterville, as well as Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

Interceptions from Otero’s phone identified Basilici as a key member of the organization, law enforcement officials said.

On May 8, 2019, Basilici and, allegedly, others were involved in a shooting at a co-conspirator’s residence related to a drug debt allegedly owed Otero. Basilici was intercepted as he discussed hiding in the woods after the shooting, and changing his phone number to avoid arrest, officials said.

Additionally, according to court documents, in April 2019, Basilici’s co-conspirators lured a victim from Massachusetts to Rhode Island, where they kidnapped and held him, stripped him naked, assaulted and threatened to rape him, and then took his clothing and cell telephone.

The purpose of this kidnapping and assault was to retaliate against the victim because the co-conspirators erroneously believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement, and the assailants repeatedly yelled at the victim for being a “rat”, officials said.

Basilici, for his part, video recorded the assault—which lasted over 18 minutes. Basilici provided this video to Otero, who further intimidated or attempted to intimidate other witnesses after the kidnapping by sharing the video with numerous others, law enforcement officials said.