Massachusetts District | One of New England's largest methamphetamine dealers sentenced to 23 years in prison

BOSTON – The leader of a nationwide drug ring was convicted in federal court in Boston. During the investigation, over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine were seized, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson pistols and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition. An illegal marijuana plantation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dug up.

Reshat Alkayisi, 63, a Turkish national residing in Covington, Rhode Island, was sentenced on September 17, 2024, by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 23 years in prison, followed by five years of probation. In April 2024, Alkayisi pleaded guilty to five counts of a second indictment. He is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession of 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of money laundering.

“This defendant was one of New England's largest methamphetamine dealers whose massive drug trafficking operation fueled addiction and devastation in our communities. He will now pay a very high price for the chaos he wreaked throughout Massachusetts. This sentence sends a strong message to anyone who brings deadly drugs to our streets,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “As this indictment demonstrates, our dedicated prosecutors and law enforcement partners will be relentless in their efforts to disrupt and dismantle the drug trade and ensure that individuals like Mr. Alkayisi are held accountable.”

“Reshat Alkayisi was the leader of a nationwide drug trafficking organization that smuggled massive amounts of methamphetamine onto the streets of New England and profited off the pain and misery of others,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Boston Division. “Fortunately, his 24/7 operation, protected in part by illegal firearms, including an AK-47, is officially over with this 23-year prison sentence. Operation Ice Cats is an example of how the FBI and our partners work hard to dismantle dangerous drug trafficking operations as we work to make our communities safer.”

“The DEA is committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine off the streets of Massachusetts,” said Stephen Belleau, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “This severe sentence not only holds Mr. Alkayisi accountable for his crimes, but also serves as a warning to those dealers who contribute to the drug crisis in New England and across America. This investigation demonstrates the strength of joint law enforcement efforts and our close partnership with the U.S. Attorney's Office.”

In late 2020, Alkayisi was identified as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, distributing multi-pound quantities to dealer customers throughout New England. Between October 2020 and April 2021, 12 controlled methamphetamine purchases were made by the drug trafficking organization – two of which were delivered personally by Alkayisi, and one was negotiated with Alkayisi and delivered by a co-conspirator.

Intercepted communications showed that Alkayisi supplied several distribution clients with supplier quantities of pure methamphetamine. Alkayisi also regularly boasted to these distributors about the quality of his methamphetamine, saying, “You're going to get nice, big crystals” and “Your contacts should be happy with the size of the product.” Alkayisi also operated a large-scale marijuana grow operation from his Rhode Island residence, including while on probation for a state conviction for illegal marijuana trafficking.

Alkayisi typically charged his distribution clients $5,000 to $6,000 per pound of methamphetamine and used numerous methods to conceal the source of these proceeds. These included paying his distributors' bail, structuring cash deposits to avoid reporting requirements, using peer-to-peer wire transfers, and purchasing vehicles with cash. Alkayisi also created and used a shell company to launder his proceeds and recruited and hired other individuals, including his wife, to launder his drug proceeds for him.

On June 1, 2021, four packages containing a total of approximately 100 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine were seized, picked up from a UPS store in Rhode Island on behalf of Alkayisi. Each of the packages was addressed to Alkayisi's shell company, which he used to launder his drug proceeds.

On June 25, 2021, another package was seized, intended for Alkayisi, containing approximately 30 pounds of 100% pure methamphetamine. In total, approximately 160 pounds of methamphetamine was seized during controlled buys, vehicle stops, and package seizures during the course of the investigation.

A search of Alkayisi's Rhode Island residence also resulted in the seizure of an AK-47 assault rifle, a Glock pistol without a serial number, over 4,200 rounds of ammunition, and over $23,000 in cash. Additionally, numerous electronic devices were seized, including a computer that contained a ledger documenting Alkayisi's methamphetamine sales from January through June 2021. Based on the ledger and the seizures, Alkayisi was responsible for over 660 pounds of methamphetamine over the course of six months. Law enforcement also discovered his large illegal marijuana cultivation operation with hundreds of marijuana plants in all stages of production for distribution.

Alkayisi is the seventh defendant to be convicted in the case. All other defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy, FBI SAC Cohen, and DEA Acting SAC Belleau made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Maine State Police, the Massachusetts Department of Correction, the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office, and the Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown, and Waltham police departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter and Katherine Ferguson of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. For more information about the OCDETF program, visit