Stoughton Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Trafficking

STOUGHTON, MA — A Stoughton man in federal court admitted to taking part in a South Shore cocaine distribution operation.

Angel Morales, 46, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to posses cocaine with intent to distribute, distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He is scheduled to be sentenced ­­­Dec. 12, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

From late February 2016 until July 19, 2016, Morales conspired with co-defendant Roberto Fonseca-Rivera and others to distribute cocaine in Canton, Stoughton, Randolph, Quincy, and Weymouth.

Authorities say Morales asked Fonseca-Rivera to receive packages containing cocaine that were being shipped from Puerto Rico to locations in Randolph and Canton, where Fonseca-Rivera had rented private mailboxes. Fonseca-Rivera received at least eight packages from Puerto Rico and delivered them to Morales, who paid Fonseca-Rivera for receiving the cocaine. Morales had a similar arrangement with another individual who also received packages of cocaine on behalf of Morales. Morales and Fonseca-Rivera then distributed the cocaine to other individuals, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

On July 19, 2016, law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Morales’ apartment in Stoughton where they seized approximately $11,000 in cash, more than 100 grams of cocaine, a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and two magazines containing 15 rounds of ammunition each, a box containing an additional 10 rounds of ammunition, and various drug trafficking paraphernalia.

Fonseca-Rivera pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, 2017.

Morales faces up to 20 years in prison for the charges of conspiracy to posses cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and 10 years for the charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Information in this article was provided by the US Attorney's office.

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