A Southbridge man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role as the chief lieutenant of a drug trafficking organization that distributed cocaine and fentanyl across the North Shore and Central Massachusetts. Ismael Maysonet, 44, received his sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman in Worcester, along with five years of supervised release.
Maysonet was convicted in February 2025 after a six-day jury trial on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and fentanyl, as well as possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. He was charged in September 2022 alongside 21 other co-conspirators.
From August 2021 through August 2022, authorities identified Maysonet as the chief lieutenant of a Southbridge-based drug trafficking organization (DTO). The group distributed cocaine and fentanyl both to retail customers and other dealers at the direction of its leaders, Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez. According to investigators, the DTO used the United States mail system to send large quantities of cocaine from Puerto Rico to addresses controlled by the organization and shipped packages containing fentanyl to recipients in Florida and other locations.
As chief lieutenant, Maysonet managed various aspects of the DTO’s operations. His responsibilities included coordinating narcotics shipments from Puerto Rico, negotiating with suppliers, transporting drugs and proceeds between customers and suppliers, and packaging fentanyl for shipment to Florida for further distribution. During the investigation, when law enforcement seized a package containing cocaine, Maysonet approached mail carriers both on the street and at post offices seeking information about its whereabouts.
During his trial in February 2025, Maysonet also threatened a federal witness in open court.
Authorities seized approximately nine kilograms of cocaine sent through the mail and 800 grams of fentanyl from members of the DTO during their investigation. Maysonet was held responsible for distributing over 700 grams of fentanyl and three kilograms of cocaine.
The leaders of the DTO, Jonathan Pizarro Gonzalez and Isaac Gonzalez, pleaded guilty in January 2025. In June 2025 they were sentenced to ten years in prison and fifteen years in prison respectively.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: “United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service made the announcement today.”
Foley also acknowledged support from several agencies: “Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, Southbridge Police Department, Lawrence Police Department, Essex County Sherriff’s Department and Worcester County Sheriff’s Department.” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen W. Hassink and Samuel R. Feldman prosecuted this case.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation—a program that targets high-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led approach involving multiple agencies nationwide. More details about OCDETF are available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The charging documents contain allegations only; any remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
