Pipeline Bstn
Chinatown
U.S. Attorney’s
OfficeOctober 25,
2013

•

District of
Massachusetts(617)
748-3100

BOSTON—A leading member of a drug trafficking and money laundering
conspiracy was sentenced yesterday after a multi-year FBI task force investigation
into illegal activity in Boston’s Chinatown.
Brant Welty, 41, of South Boston, was sentenced by United States District Court
Judge Joseph L. Tauro to 100 months in prison and ordered to pay a criminal
forfeiture money judgment of $85,500. In March 2013, he pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and money laundering conspiracy. Welty,
along with 12 others, was first charged in 2011 for a conspiracy that spanned
Massachusetts, Florida, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and
elsewhere, trafficked hundreds of thousands of oxycodone pills, and generated
more than $4 million in proceeds.
The FBI’s Organized Crime Task Force led a long-term investigation into drug
trafficking, illegal gambling, extortion, prostitution, and other criminal activity in
Boston’s Chinatown and elsewhere. The investigation included a seven-month,
court-authorized wire surveillance of cell phones, including the phones of five of
the defendants associated with the conspiracy. The investigation has resulted in the
seizure of over $480,000 in cash, a 38-foot speed boat, numerous luxury vehicles,
13 firearms, and approximately 12,000 oxycodone pills. Investigators also
uncovered extensive evidence of illegal gambling and prostitution as well as the
use of extortionate threats to collect loans to gamblers and others.
The following were also convicted of the drug trafficking conspiracy and, in the
cases of some defendants, money laundering conspiracy: John Willis a/k/a Bac
Guai John (White Devil John), 42, of Dorchester, the leader of the conspiracy,
sentenced to 20 years; Kevin Baranowski, 41, of Boston, sentenced to 80 months;
Peter Melendez, 50, of Sunrise, Florida, sentenced to 160 months; Colby Deering,
41, of Quincy, sentenced to 60 months; Brian Bowes, 42, of Sunrise, Florida,
sentenced to 57 months; and Michael Clemente, 29 of Sunrise, Florida, sentenced
to 36 months. Bridget Welty, 40, of Boston, was convicted of structuring and was
sentenced to one year of supervised release. Anh Nguyen, 28, of Boston, was
convicted of witness tampering, and sentenced to one year of probation. Aibun
Eng, 38, of Quincy, was convicted of drug conspiracy and has yet to be sentenced.

 "White Devil," named after Willis' Cantonese nickname, "Bac Guai John" —
"White Devil John.
The following were also charged in the drug-trafficking conspiracy with
Willis: Brant Welty, 39, Kevin Baranowski, 41, and Bridget Welty, 38, all of
Boston; Vincent Alberico, 29, of Centerville, Mass.; Peter Melendez, 50,
of Sunrise, Florida; Aibun Eng, 38,and Steven Le, 21, both of Quincy;
Brian Bowes, 42, and Michael Clemente, 29, both of Sunrise,
Florida; Michael Shaw, 39, of Wilton Manors, Florida; Mark
Thompson, 28, of Davie, Florida; and Anevay Duffy, 25, of
Cumberland, Rhode Island. Alberico is also charged with assaulting a
federal official who was performing his official duties.
With the exception of Melendez, the defendants in this matter have been
arrested
During the sentencing hearing, Moran also detailed how Willis distributed
oxycodone pills, an addictive prescription painkiller, through a wide
network of associates from Florida to Massachusetts and laundered
millions of dollars in profit.
Court documents describe Willis as "the kingpin, organizer and leader of a
vast conspiracy" with details that "would sound like a Hollywood cliche if
they were not true," complete with fast cars, luxury homes, firearms and a
38-foot speedboat. Thursday's sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to
charges of drug trafficking and money laundering in March.
Moran hopes other illegal oxycodone dealers will learn from Willis'
example. But, of course, this example is not your average crime story
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Moran