Stoughton Man Sentenced in Cocaine Trafficking and Fraud Schemes

BOSTON -- A Stoughton man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for his role in an Eastern Massachusetts cocaine trafficking ring and a bank- and wire-fraud scheme tied to pandemic relief funds.

In addition to the prison time, Patrick Joseph, 42, faces five years of supervised release. In March 2024, he pled guilty to one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and cocaine base, wire fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.

From February 2020 to May 2021, he helped transport 10-20 kilograms of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico, and eventually to Massachusetts via the U.S. Mail, according to a news release. The cocaine seized by investigators was found concealed in air fryers and locked cash boxes before being sent through the mail. The investigation led to the search of several drug stash locations and the seizure of dozens of kilograms of cocaine.

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investigators also learned that Joseph was involved in a scheme to defraud a Covid-19 pandemic relief program. He participated in a scheme that obtained over $220,000 in proceeds through fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications submitted between April 2020 and April 2021. He and co-conspirator Yves Montima submitted 12 fraudulent PPP loan applications, both in their own names and on behalf of others, at several financial institutions.

In November 2021, Montima pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud conspiracy and was sentenced in September 2023.