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Worcester Man Pleads Guilty to Drugs, Guns, Money Laundering

By Tom Marino | March 7, 2022
Last Updated: March 7, 2022

WORCESTER – A local man pleaded guilty to several drug charges in federal court in Worcester on Monday , March 7.

William Hoey, 41, of Worcester, to the following charges:

  • Possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine;
  • Possession with intent to distribute cocaine;
  • Using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime;
  • Money laundering
  • Filing a false and fraudulent tax return.

The judge scheduled sentencing for June 27.

According to federal prosecutors, on three occasions between July and September 2019, Hoey sold over 348 grams of cocaine to a cooperating witness.

Agents stopped Hoey in route to meet with a cooperating witness on October 22, 2019.  A search of the vehicle revealed nearly 500 grams of cocaine and a loaded firearm.

Agents searched Hoey’s residence and found:

  • 835 grams of cocaine from a safe;
  • A loaded Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun;
  • A black Beretta firearm;
  • $4,450 in cash;
  • Cutting agents;
  • A scale and weights;
  • A money counter;
  • Several cellphones.

Hoey also attempted to conceal drug trafficking proceeds by moving money from his bank accounts into accounts held by someone else in three separate transactions, according to prosecutors. Two of the transactions were for amounts over $80,000.

In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Hoey also knowingly and willfully filed false and fraudulent tax returns by omitting his income from drug dealings in his tax filings for each year.

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Carrying a firearm during and in relation to, or possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, provides for a mandatory sentence of five years in prison.

Money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Filing a false tax return provides for a sentence of up to three years in prison.

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