BOSTON — Two Lowell cousins with ties to the Asian Boyz have pleaded guilty in federal court to trafficking thousands of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, marking the latest development in a years‑long investigation into the gang’s drug network.
Owen “Oski” Landry, 24, a confirmed member of ABZ, and Zachary Hansen, 31, a gang associate, worked together to distribute thousands of meth‑filled pills by taking part in a trafficking operation that used Hansen’s home as a stash and distribution site and relied on sales arranged by Landry, according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley’s Office.
Prosecutors said the cousins conspired with another ABZ member, Sovath “Stryke” Yern, of Billerica, to profit from bulk sales of the fake Adderall pills.
In July and August 2024, Landry arranged two large pill deals and directed buyers to the Lowell residence, unaware that both transactions were part of undercover law‑enforcement operations.
In the first deal, a cooperating witness met Hansen inside the home and paid him $2,000 for 5,000 pills. A month later, another witness paid the same amount for 2,000 pills while investigators observed a co‑conspirator moving back and forth between the house and the buyer, prosecutors said.
Later in 2024, Landry allegedly began sourcing pills directly from Yern’s apartment in Billerica.
On two occasions in late 2024, Landry met a cooperating witness in the apartment garage, took cash payments, and then entered the building with Yern.
Prosecutors said Landry was seen going into Yern’s apartment with the money and leaving with large bags of pills before returning to deliver 4,000 pills in November 2024 and 5,000 in December 2024.
Landry pleaded guilty on Wednesday to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute the same amount, and two counts of distributing 50 grams or more. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8.
Hansen pleaded guilty on March 31 to conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute that amount. His sentencing is set for March 31, 2027.
Landry’s attorney, Austin Tzeng, and Hansen’s attorney, Monica Shah, were not immediately available for comment.
The two cousins, along with Yern, were among six men arrested in January 2025, when federal authorities unsealed a second wave of indictments targeting alleged members and associates of ABZ. The other three other men include Isiah “Tank” or “Rozay” Lyons, Richard “Cheese” Nguyen and Scott “S.G.” Fournier, each of Lowell.
Yern’s case is still moving through federal court, while Fournier, received a 10‑year prison sentence in November after pleading guilty to drug distribution and conspiracy charges.
Juries found Lyons and Nguyen guilty of offenses connected to the counterfeit pill ring. Lyons is scheduled to be sentenced on April 21, while Nguyen was sentenced earlier this month to 10 years and eight months in prison.
The arrests stemmed from a federal investigation launched in 2021 to disrupt the gang’s manufacturing and distribution of homemade methamphetamine pills circulating in the Lowell area.
The first wave of indictments came in July 2023, when nine members and associates of ABZ were arrested on drug‑trafficking and firearms charges, including the transfer of machine‑gun conversion devices.
Of the nine defendants, seven were from Greater Lowell. They included Sary “Bad Guy” Rath, of Lowell, who was sentenced to 11 1/4 years in prison; Bill “Bonez” Phim, of Lowell, who received a 10‑year sentence; Brian “Cheech” Gingras, of Lowell, who was sentenced to nine years; Erickson “Silent” Dao, of Lowell, who received seven years; and Joseph Bagrowski of Chelmsford, who was sentenced to time served.
Two other Lowell men — Samnang “Smiley” Son, and Billy “Juju” Chan have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
According to prosecutors, more than 57,000 counterfeit Adderall pills — containing over 18 kilograms of methamphetamine — were seized or purchased during the course of the investigation.
Follow Aaron Curtis on X @aselahcurtis, or on Bluesky @aaronscurtis.bsky.social.
Original article
Comments