Violent Cape Cod Gang Leaders Sentenced For Kidnapping, Drugs: Feds

HYANNIS, MA — Three men have been sentenced to decades in federal prison for a kidnapping that was recorded on video, shooting at a Hyannis man over a drug debt, and dealing heroin.

According to prosecutors, an investigation into the three men began in 2018 and revealed that Edwin Otero, 33, of Hyannis; Justin Joseph, 35, of Pawtucket, RI; and Anthony Basilici, 39, of Pawtucket; and others were distributing large quantities of heroin throughout Cape Cod, including in Hyannis, Mashpee, Centerville, Osterville, and Pawtucket.

The three lured a victim from Massachusetts to Rhode Island in April 2019 where they kidnapped and held him, stripped him naked, assaulted him with a hammer, and threatened to rape him, prosecutors said. They believed the victim was cooperating with law enforcement.

Basilici recorded the assault and kidnapping on a cell phone which Otero and Basilici used to intimidate other witnesses after the kidnapping.

In May 2019, Otero, Joseph, and Basilici armed themselves with guns and worked together to shoot at a Hyannis man over a drug debt owed to Otero, according to prosecutors.

Otero, Joseph, and Basilici were initially charged along with eight others in May 2019 on drug conspiracy charges. Law enforcement seized heroin, packaging materials, scales, a finger press, and three guns and ammunition from Otero’s grandmother’s residence.

Otero, Joseph, Basilici, and two others were indicted in connection with the violent kidnapping and related charges in 2020, according to prosecutors.

Basilici was convicted by a federal jury in a January trial of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession and discharge of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime; kidnapping conspiracy; witness intimidation; and witness retaliation conspiracy. He was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison.

Otero and Joseph pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin; possession and discharge of a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime; kidnapping conspiracy; and witness retaliation conspiracy.

Otero was sentenced to 38 years in prison. Joseph was sentenced to 30 years in prison.