Cape Cod Mother In Drug Ring Avoids Jail

BOSTON, MA — A Cape Cod mother who ran a marijuana and money laundering ring with her son avoided prison at her sentencing Monday. Diane Johnson, 51, of Mashpee, was sentenced in federal court in Boston to 6 months home confinement and 5 years probation. In May, she pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy.

Johnson, her son and two others — Justin Groom and Evan Lopes — ran the marijuana ring from about 2010 to 2015, according to Acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb. Landry was recently sentenced to 6 years in prison; Groom and Lopes were sentenced to 2 years probation and 3 years probation, respectively. (Sign up for free daily newsletters and breaking news alerts from Massachusetts Patch sites.)

"Johnson and her son ... conspired to launder drug proceeds in order to disguise the nature of the funds and continue their drug trafficking activity," Weinreb said in a statement. "From May 2014 to January 2015, two of Johnson’s co-defendants, Landry and Justin Groom, conspired to manufacture and distribute marijuana and possessed marijuana with the intent to distribute it. Landry, a convicted felon, was also found in possession of a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol. He continued participating in the criminal offense while in jail on state charges."

Groom used the drug proceeds to pay rent for a home where he grew marijuana, Weinreb said, and Lopes was found in possession of methylone.

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