An associate of the Asian Boyz gang from Lowell, Massachusetts, has been convicted for his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution network. Richard Nguyen, also known as “Cheese” or “Cheeseburger,” was found guilty by a federal jury on two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and one count involving 50 grams or more.
The verdict follows a five-day trial. U.S. District Court Judge Brian E. Murphy set sentencing for February 26, 2026. Nguyen was arrested and charged in January 2025.
Authorities began investigating the Asian Boyz gang in 2021 with the aim of disrupting large-scale manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine pills disguised as Adderall in Lowell. Between March 2022 and January 2025, Nguyen and other defendants sold these counterfeit pills on at least 47 occasions to undercover officers and cooperating witnesses.
During the trial, evidence showed that between January and April 2024, Nguyen sold counterfeit Adderall pills to a cooperating witness three times at his home. Each transaction took place on a back porch accessible via a narrow alleyway. The deals were arranged through an Instagram account named “Cheese.” During negotiations, Nguyen reportedly told the witness he could only get the pills for $0.70 each but needed to sell them at $0.80 per pill to make a profit: “make [his] dollar.” In total, approximately 5,000 pills were sold over three transactions.
The charge involving over 500 grams of methamphetamine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years in prison and could result in up to life imprisonment along with fines up to $10 million. The charge involving over 50 grams carries at least five years’ imprisonment with potential fines up to $5 million.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Superintendent Greg C. Hudon of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today.”
Additional support came from several local police departments including those from Massachusetts State Police; Billerica; Haverhill; Methuen; North Andover; and Salem.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak III and Brendan D. O’Shea are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime by strengthening cooperation among law enforcement agencies and communities across all levels nationwide.
More information about Project Safe Neighborhoods can be found at https://www.justice.gov/PSN.
The investigation was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program which targets major criminal organizations using coordinated efforts among various agencies.
Details about OCDETF are available at Justice.gov/OCDETF.
