BOSTON, Mass. — A Taunton man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for trafficking large quantities of drugs and using a stolen identity to rent apartments used in his distribution operation, federal prosecutors announced Friday.
Terrence Pyrtle, 42, known by aliases including “Big T” and “big_t558,” was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Patti B. Saris on Thursday. In April, Pyrtle pleaded guilty to multiple charges including drug trafficking conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, as well as access device fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court records, Pyrtle and co-defendant Ashley Roostaie used another person’s name, birth date, and Social Security number to fraudulently lease apartments in Braintree and Somerville. The apartments were then used by Pyrtle as bases for drug distribution. The scheme included the creation of a fake driver’s license and a Green Dot debit card account linked to the stolen identity to further conceal their activities.
Pyrtle’s drug trafficking conspiracy involved distribution-level quantities of multiple controlled substances, including 400 grams or more of fentanyl, fentanyl analogue, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and methamphetamine, and extended to additional locations across Massachusetts.
Roostaie was sentenced in May to two years of probation and ordered to pay $1,000 in fines and restitution.
The investigation involved the FBI Boston Division, Massachusetts State Police, and multiple local law enforcement agencies across the state. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin R. O’Donnell and David Cutshall.
Pyrtle ran a high-volume drug operation while concealing his identity using stolen personal information to rent distribution sites.