By Reshat Alkayisi, a 63-year-old Turkish national residing in Covington, Rhode Island, has been sentenced to 23 years in federal prison for leading one of New England’s largest methamphetamine distribution operations, U.S. Attorney’s Office officials announced Tuesday.
U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton handed down the sentence, which includes five years of supervised release following imprisonment. Alkayisi had previously pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and money laundering.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Ice Cats,” resulted in the seizure of over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, multiple firearms including an AK-47 and a Glock with no serial number, and more than 4,200 rounds of ammunition. Authorities also dismantled an illegal marijuana grow operation containing hundreds of plants at Alkayisi’s residence.
“Reshat Alkayisi was the leader of a nationwide drug trafficking organization that pushed massive amounts of methamphetamine onto New England streets, and profited from the pain and misery of others,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division.
According to court documents, Alkayisi supplied multiple distributors with high-purity methamphetamine between October 2020 and April 2021, charging $5,000 to $6,000 per pound. He employed various money laundering techniques, including structuring cash deposits, using peer-to-peer transfers, and creating a shell company.
The investigation revealed Alkayisi was responsible for distributing over 660 pounds of methamphetamine in a six-month period. Authorities intercepted multiple packages containing large quantities of the drug, including one shipment of approximately 100 pounds.
Acting U.S. Attorney Levy praised the collaborative efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in dismantling this major drug trafficking operation. The case was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program, aimed at disrupting high-level criminal organizations.
Alkayisi is the seventh defendant to be sentenced in this case, with remaining co-conspirators awaiting sentencing after entering guilty pleas.
Source: DOJ
