Braintree Man Sentenced In 'Operation Snowfall' Drug Conspiracy Case

BRAINTREE, MA — A Braintree man was the 12th person sentenced on drug trafficking-related charges in what the feds are calling the "Operation Snowfall" case.

Martin Angomas, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to four years in prison and three years of supervised release this week. Angomas pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and to possessing ammunition as a convicted felon.

The Braintree native was charged with 23 others in June 2020 as part of Operation Snowfall – a multi-year investigation into drug trafficking activities by a drug trafficking organization (DTO) comprised of Boston-based street gang members and associates, officials said.

According to the charging documents, beginning in November 2018, law enforcement investigated drug trafficking activities, gang members and associates in the Commonwealth Development in Brighton, formerly known as Fidelis Way, a multi-apartment public housing development. It is alleged that the defendants, through their drug trafficking activities, assumed control over multiple apartments, where they stored, cooked, packaged and sold drugs.

As a result, "their activities caused a blight of the development and reduced the quality of life of the other residents," officials said.

Angomas was identified as a drug distributor and supplier, according to officials.

During intercepted communications between Angomas and co-defendant Hassan Monroe, a wholesale supplier and distributor within the organization, Angomas coordinated providing Monroe with cocaine to be given to Kenji Drayton, one of the organization's principal suppliers and distributors.

Angomas and Monroe later met at an agreed-upon location, getting into a vehicle and driving to meet Drayton for the deal. They then left in separate vehicles, officials said.

During a search of Angomas’ home in June 2020, ammunition, crack cocaine, two loaded firearms and over $360,000 were recovered. At the time of the offense, Angomas had a prior conviction punishable by more than one year in prison, officials noted.

Angomas is the 12th defendant to be sentenced in the case. The remaining defendants are either pending sentencing or have pleaded not guilty and are pending trial.

One defendant, Derek Hart, remains at large.

On Sept. 28, Drayton was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. On July 28, Monroe was sentenced to six years in prison and four years of supervised release.