Northeast
Numerous members, associates of violent Boston gang face racketeering, drug trafficking and other charges
Over 40 members and associates of a violent Boston gang allegedly responsible for multiple murders, racketeering, COVID loan fraud and other crimes were arrested on Wednesday during an operation involving federal and local agencies.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, led by Joshua S. Levy, announced the crack-down on Wednesday, following a two-year investigation into gang violence in Boston.
In a press release, Levy’s office said the Heath Street Gang operates out of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, which is a public housing development in Jamaica Plain.
The gang was formed in the 1980s, the release read, and is alleged to have over 150 members and to have been involved in violent acts to protect and preserve the gang’s power, territory and reputation.
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Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy speaks. Authorities announce the arrest of three people for operating a brothel network in Greater Boston and eastern Virginia. (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Charging documents claim that in addition to Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) conspiracy crimes, members and associates are implicated in numerous murders, attempted murders and shootings largely targeting rival gang members and associates of other Boston-based gangs, including the H-Block and Mission Hill gangs.
One shooting Heath Street gang members allegedly took part in, officials said, targeted rivals in the Mission Hill Gang’s territory in October 2016, and resulted in the shooting of a 9-year-old girl who was severely injured.
In an incident in 2021, a juvenile Heath Street member or associate allegedly committed murder in the Mission Hill Gang’s territory, which Levy’s office said is common, as the Heath Street gang is accused of recruiting juveniles in the apartment development to join the gang and participate in crimes.
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The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts claims the Heath Street Gang operates out of the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments, formerly known as the Bromley Heath Housing Development, in Jamaica Plain. (Google Maps)
Levy’s office also alleges that the Heath Street Gang requires younger prospects to commit acts as part of their initiation, and they are rewarded with appearances in songs or videos made by the gang to assert and affirm gang membership, brag about violent acts and threaten rival gangs.
The gang members are alleged to have assaulted numerous law enforcement officers, as well.
The apartment development where the gang is based has been used for drug trafficking for many years, Levy’s office said, and members have established drug distribution networks throughout Massachusetts, Maine and California.
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Some of the drug activity and deals are facilitated through social media platforms, the attorney’s office alleges, and includes the distribution of fentanyl, fentanyl pills, cocaine, cocaine base and marijuana.
Since about 2019, the group has openly stolen merchandise from stores in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and engaged in unemployment fraud using the CARES Act Loan, according to charging documents.
If convicted, suspects charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, and robbery could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine for each count.
Suspects convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition could get up to 10 years or 15 years for offenses committed after June 25, 2022, and at least five years, and up to life in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a violent or drug trafficking crime.
Joining Levy during the announcement was Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox; James M. Ferguson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations.
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Three Rocky Hill firefighters were honored Monday night for their part in a rescue on the Connecticut River in March.
Emergency crews responded to Ferry Park in Rocky Hill on March 23 in response to a report of a vehicle in the river.
When they arrived, they found a woman in a Jeep about 35 feet out from the riverbank.
Crews broke a window and pulled the woman to safety after about 10 minutes, according to fire officials.
The woman sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Monday evening, Captain William Kelly, Captain Roberto Leone, and Lt. Travis Gerace-Hicks were awarded the fire department’s valor award for their rescue efforts.
PORTLAND (WGME) – The wife of Democrat Graham Platner, who is running for U.S. Senate in Maine, is responding to stories in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times about sexually explicit text messages Platner allegedly sent to other women during their marriage.
CBS13 reached out to the Platner campaign for comment Monday but did not hear back.
According to multiple reports, Platner calls the stories “gossip.”
Amy Gertner, his wife of nearly three years, called the former staffer’s claims a “betrayal” and an “invasion of our privacy.”
Platner says the Wall Street Journal and New York Times ran stories without any evidence, based solely on gossip from a former staffer.
The wife of Democrat Graham Platner, who is running for U.S. Senate in Maine, is responding to stories in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times about sexually explicit text messages Platner allegedly sent to other women during their marriage. (WGME)
He says claims made by that staffer, former State Representative Genevieve McDonald, are untrue.
Platner’s wife, Amy Gertner, says she trusted McDonald with the most private chapter of their lives.
“I confided deeply personal details about my marriage to someone I considered a friend. In the months since, I have had to watch as she spread malicious gossip to anyone who would take her call,” Gertner said.
“The situation he’s in right now that’s most uncomfortable, I think, is that he and his wife seem to be telling different versions of the story,” USM Political Science Professor Ron Schmidt said.
Gertner defended her husband in a video she posted.
“I find it really shameful that there’s a group of media outlets, and people who are willing to spread gossip, instead of talking about real issues that Graham is running on like healthcare and education and childcare,” Gertner said.
The wife of Democrat Graham Platner, who is running for U.S. Senate in Maine, is responding to stories in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times about sexually explicit text messages Platner allegedly sent to other women during their marriage. (WGME)
She says being newly married while going through infertility and a Senate campaign is hard, but she says they are working on their marriage and mental health.
“I knew the man that I married had been through an immense amount of violent, active combat,” Gertner said. “No marriage is perfect, and I don’t want a perfect marriage. I want my marriage.”
“If this is a case of mistakes made early on in the marriage, and they’ve had marriage counseling, then the best thing to do is to say ‘I made a mistake. It was a while ago. It was related to something else, and it doesn’t have a bearing on where I am right now,’” Schmidt said.
A Platner supporter, who attended Sunday’s town hall meeting with the candidate, says the focus needs to be on policy, not personal matters.
“I think people should really continue to engage with Platner and the campaign around affordable housing, universal healthcare and issues that really matter to us,” Auburn Community Organizer Safiya Khalid said.
The wife of Democrat Graham Platner, who is running for U.S. Senate in Maine, is responding to stories in the Wall Street Journal and New York Times about sexually explicit text messages Platner allegedly sent to other women during their marriage. (WGME)
“Graham and I have a great marriage,” Gertner said. “And we love each other deeply. We deserve better. I think Mainers deserve better.”
Platner has apologized for other controversies like now-deleted Reddit posts calling himself a communist and blaming victims of rape, and a nazi-symbol skull tattoo his military unit got that he’s since covered up.
Through it all, he’s still leading in the polls.
Schmidt says Democratic voters like what Platner stands for, but he says the controversies are certainly a concern, especially with Senator Susan Collins, in his view, doing a good job distancing herself from President Donald Trump.
Massachusetts
Winners’ circle: Tracking every 2026 spring high school championship – The Boston Globe
Championship season is upon us, and we’re tracking every title winner in Massachusetts this spring.
From the golf sectionals in late May to championship weekend June 11-14, a four-day stretch in which 31 titlists will be crowned across boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, boys and girls’ tennis, boys’ and girls’ rugby, boys’ volleyball, softball, and baseball, we’ll have you covered.
Find all the dates, brackets, seedings, matchups, and links to our postseason previews here.
Follow us on X @GlobeSchools, Instagram @BGlobeSchools, and Facebook to stay up to date.
Over at Globe.com/Schools you’ll find our daily scoreboard, nightly Takeaways, game coverage, videos, live streams, and our weekly Varsity News newsletter (sign up for free) to keep you in the know.
Division 1: Lexington girls, St. John’s Prep boys
Lexington girls graduate to two-time Division 1 track champions, St. John’s Prep sprints to boys’ title
Division 2: Billerica girls, North Andover boys
Billerica girls unphazed by move up to Division 2, going back-to-back as North Andover boys dominate
Division 3: Canton girls, Walpole boys
Canton girls cap greatest season with first Division 3 track title, Walpole boys win by thinnest margin
Division 4: Duxbury girls, Newburyport boys
Historic win for Duxbury girls, Mohoric paces Newburyport boys to Division 4 outdoor track championship
Division 5: North Reading girls, Weston boys
It’s four in a row for North Reading girls, two straight for Weston boys at Division 5 track championships
Division 6: Ayer Shirley girls, Abington boys
Ayer Shirley girls pick up where they left off, Abington boys twinning at Division 6 track championships
Day 1, Divisions 1, 2, and 5: Lexington boys and girls setting the pace at Division 1 track & field championships
Day 1, Divisions 3, 4, and 6: Canton girls make a strong run to first at Division 3 track championships
South: Walpole | With Tori Adams as its driving force, Walpole scores third straight MIAA South girls’ golf championship
North/Central/West: Hopkinton | Concord-Carlisle’s Sophie Redmond, Hopkinton rule MIAA girls’ golf championship for North/Central/West
With titles for Natick and Peabody and smiles for all, MIAA unified track championship ‘beyond inspiring’
Brendan Kurie can be reached at brendan.kurie@globe.com. Follow him on X @BrendanKurie.
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