Somerville man guilty in Arkansas drug deal

By George P. Hassett

A Somerville man who authorities describe as a “mafia street boss” was convicted in Arkansas last week on federal charges of conspiring to sell 4.5 pounds of cocaine.

Ralph Francis DeLeo, 66, a former Russell Street resident, faces anywhere from five to 40 years in prison when he is sentenced sometime in the next 90 days.

DeLeo is also facing federal charges in Massachusetts, where authorities say he ran a crew affiliated with the Colombo Family of New York.

According to a December 2009 press release from the Department of Justice, DeLeo directed and controlled a crew “engaged in the importation, trafficking and distribution of narcotics and controlled substances, including cocaine and marijuana; extortion; loan sharking; and interstate and foreign travel in aid of racketeering, mainly in Massachusetts, Arkansas, Rhode Island, New York and Florida.”

That trial is scheduled to begin in December, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

DeLeo allegedly used the criminal activities of his crew to increase and maintain his status in the Colombo Family, a notorious New York criminal organization.

DeLeo’s conviction on Thursday stemmed from a Dec. 12, 2008 arrest of Tri Cam Le in Arkansas with two kilograms, or about 4.5 pounds, of cocaine. Prosecutors said Le was in George Thompson’s employ as a drug “mule” and was transporting cocaine from Los Angeles to Boston where he was going to deliver it to Deleo.

Thompson was also convicted last week after the jury deliberated for less than two hours.

During the course of the investigation into Thompson in Arkansas, search warrants executed by the FBI and ATF resulted in the seizure of approximately 147 firearms, over 80,000 rounds of ammunition and five illegal silencers, according to authorities.

Thompson fled the country but was eventually apprehended in Bangkok, Thailand and deported to the United States. Prosecutors said while Thompson was out of the United States, he maintained contact with DeLeo.

Another Somerville man, Edmond Kulesza, 56, faces racketeering charges with DeLeo in the December trial. Deleo and Kulesza face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.