Five Cape and Rhode Island Men Charged in Violent Kidnapping

Five men from Cape Cod and Rhode Island were charged in a superseding indictment unsealed yesterday in Boston's federal courthouse on charges related to a violent kidnapping and witness retaliation and intimidation scheme.

Edwin Otero, 30, of Hyannis; Justin Joseph, 33, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; and Anthony Basilici, 36, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island are already behind bars awaiting trial. Authorities previously described Otero as the ring leader of a large Cape Cod narcotics network.

The new indictment also charges Cameron Cartier, 26, arrested on March 16,  and Albert Lee, known as “Mook,” 29, who remains at large.

The new documents supersedes a July 2019 indictment which initially charged 11 people from Cape Cod and Rhode Island with heroin conspiracy and firearm charges.

In April of 2019, Otero, Joseph, Basilici, Cartier and Lee allegedly lured an unnamed male victim from Massachusetts to Rhode Island, where they kidnapped him, stripped him naked, assaulted and threatened to rape him, and then took his clothing and cell phone.

The defendants allegedly conspired to harm the victim because they believed he was cooperating with law enforcement. Otero and Basilici also allegedly intimidated or tried to intimidate other witnesses.

The charge of kidnapping conspiracy provides for a sentence of up to life in prison,  five years of supervised release and a fine up to $250,000. The charges of witness intimidation and witness retaliation conspiracy provide for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Barnstable Police Chief Matthew K. Sonnabend; and Barnstable County Sheriff James M. Cummings, made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Lauren Graber of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.