2nd RI Man Pleads Guilty In Cape Cod Kidnapping, Drug Conspiracy Case

CAPE COD, MA — A Pawtucket, Rhode Island, man is the latest to pled guilty to charges linked 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.

Albert "Mook" Lee, 32, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping. His sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 14. Lee was charged along with four co-conspirators in March 2020.

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.

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.

Additionally, according to court documents, in April 2019, Lee and others 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.

On Aug. 11, one of Lee’s co-conspirators, Anthony Basilici, pled guilty to his role in the kidnapping as well as drug trafficking, witness retaliation and intimidation charges. Three remaining defendants – Cameron Cartier, Edwin Otero, Justin Joseph and Tony Johnson – have pleaded not guilty.

The charge of conspiracy to commit kidnapping provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, up to five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.