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On the morning of June 13, 2023, Massachusetts State Police and West Springfield Police, along with partner agencies, executed a search warrant in West Springfield that yielded large amounts of cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and marijuana, as well as ecstasy, edibles, and four firearms.
Troopers and Officers took two residents of the 97 Almon Ave.home into custody, MAXWELL LACUS, 18, and KATHLEEN PARE, 51, on narcotics and weapons charges.
The raid was the result of an investigation by the West Springfield Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team’s West Unit (CINRET West), with the assistance of the State Police Detective Unit for Hampden County and the Springfield offices of the ATF and DEA. The Massachusetts State Police Special Tactical Operations Team made entry into to residence to serve the warrant.
During the search of the residence Troopers and Officers found approximately 700 grams of suspected cocaine, 31 pounds of Psilocybin (“Magic Mushrooms”), approximately 25 grams of MDMA (ecstasy pills/powder), approximately 60 pounds of marijuana, and a large quantity of THC edible products. Also found and seized were an FN Five-Seven pistol loaded with a magazine containing 20 rounds of 5.7x28 ammunition (rounds able to penetrate soft body armor), a Glock 23 pistol loaded with a round in the chamber and a 22-round magazine, a Romanian Century Arms Draco pistol loaded with a 60-round magazine containing 7.62x39mm ammunition, a Ruger Service six revolver, a silencer for a pistol,
AGlock Sear switch that converts a pistol to an automatic weapon, an assortment of ammunition/magazines and approximately $40,000 in cash.
MAXWELL LACUS was arraigned in Springfield District Court by the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office for the following offenses:
Trafficking over 200 grams of cocaine;
Trafficking 50-100 pounds of marijuana;
Possession with intent to distribute of MDMA, Xanax, and psilocybin mushrooms; and
Multiple counts of possession of a firearm without a license to carry or Firearm Identification Card, possession of a large capacity feeding device, possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony, possession firearm during the commission of a felony, improper storage of a firearm, possession of a silencer; and unlawful possession of ammunition.
KATHLEEN PARE was also arraigned at Springfield District Court for possession of a Class B narcotic (MDMA) and multiple weapons offense, including unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of s large capacity feeding device, possession of a large capacity firearm, improper storage of a firearm, and possession of a silencer.
CINRET-West, one of three regional narcotics task forces operated by the Massachusetts State Police Division of Homeland Security, is staffed by Troopers and co-located members of various local and federal partner agencies. The task force enjoys strong working relationships with other agencies in the region, including the West Springfield Police Department.
“This case shows how effective a task force and partnerships with multiple agencies can be in combating crime,” said West Springfield Police Chief G. Paul Connor. “It’s also another example of how drug and gun crimes go hand in hand. Drug crimes are not exclusive to just larger cities, but have infiltrated and impacted cities and towns across Western Massachusetts. Our patrol officers and Narcotics Unit continue to work hard on a daily basis to keep our community safe.”
Massachusetts State Police Colonel John Mawn Jr. added, “The distribution of illegal narcotics and drugs can destroy the fabric of a neighborhood, erase the sense of community, sow violence, and decrease the quality of life experienced by all residents. This operation, in conjunction with our partners, affirms that our communities belong to the many good and law-abiding citizens who live and raise families there, and not to any criminal element that tries to degrade those communities by selling drugs and illegally arming themselves.”
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