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Man Used Kids Toys, Disney Items, Halloween Decorations To Smuggle Drugs Into Mass: Feds

A Rhode Island man who pleaded guilty to his role in a conspiracy to move methamphetamines throughout the United States using children's toys and other seemingly mundane items was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday, Sept. 19, authorities said. 

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine

Photo Credit: US Drug Enforcement Administration

Nathan Boddie, 38, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, admitted that he and two others began smuggling methamphetamines, fentanyl, and cocaine from Arizona into Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and elsewhere in April 2022, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. 

They accomplished this by hiding the drugs inside children's toys, Halloween decorations, and Disney items and shipping them across the country, the prosecutor said. Agent seized seven packages containing more than 900 grams of meth, thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, and the powerful psychedelic Dimethyltryptamine from May through October 2022. 

Boddie was arrested on Feb. 6 during an unrelated Rhode Island traffic stop. Police found a loaded 3-D printed ghost gun in his car. He tried to swallow a bag with 20 grams of meth inside when police searched him, the prosecutor said. 

Investigators found more ghost guns, a 3-D printer used to make parts for them, 120 grams of meth, and ten fake driver's licenses with his name and photo but different addresses. 

In all, agents seized 16 pounds of meth and more than 700 grams of counterfeit prescription pills throughout their investigation, authorities said. 

Boddie pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on May 19, the US Attorney said.

One of his co-conspirators, Gerardo Garza, pleaded guilty in August. The third person in the alleged operation, Denise Garze, pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. 

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