Boston Criminal Lawyers Blog

18 Year Old Arrested and Charged with Murder of Wayland Teen Lauren Astley

Published on: July 5, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Nathaniel Fujita was arrested and has been charged in connection with the Murder of Lauren Astley, the Wayland teenager whose body was found in a wooded marsh area along Route 27 near a Wayland beach.

Fujita was arraigned this morning in Framingham District Court on 1st Degree Murder Charges. Following his arraignment, he was held without bail.

According to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, Lauren Astley’s car was found parked at the Wayland beach after she was reported missing late Sunday night. She was last seen leaving work at the Natick Collection at 6:30 that night. Yesterday morning, however, Lauren Astley’s body was discovered by a man along Route 27, partially submerged in a marsh.

West Roxbury Man Arrested on Massachusetts Gun & Assault Charges

Published on: July 4, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Robert M. MacCormack, 32, of West Roxbury, was arrested on Massachusetts Gun Crimes Charges this past weekend after he allegedly pulled out a gun on a food delivery driver. MacCormack was arrested on gun crimes including Assault With a Dangerous Weapon and Improper Storage of a Firearm.

According to the Boston Police Department, police officers were approached by a delivery driver who said Robert MacCormack allegedly pulled out a gun on him as he was driving down Pender Street in West Roxbury. According to the driver, MacCormack allegedly pulled up to him after his delivery and questioned why he was driving down the street in a reckless manner. The driver alleges that he was threatened at this point by MacCormack allegedly pointing a gun at him.

Boston Police Officers who responded to the incident reported that Robert MacCormack is licensed to carry a firearm and arrested him. A search of MacCormack’s house also yielded in the seizure of three guns and several rounds of ammunition.

Gloucester Man Charged with Manslaughter for Drug Overdose of Another

Published on: July 3, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Jeremiah Sullivan, of Gloucester, has been indicted by an Essex County Grand Jury on Massachusetts Murder Charges in connection with the overdose of Michael Rogers. He has been indicted on the Murder Charge of Involuntary Manslaughter; Distribution of a Class A Substance, Heroin; Operating Under the Influence of Drugs; Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle; and Leaving the Scene of an Accident.

According to the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, Jeremiah Sullivan allegedly distributed heroin to Michael Rogers, who consumed the drugs which resulted in his death by overdose.

The Essex County District Attorney’s Office is proceeding its prosecution against Jeremiah Sullivan under a theory that his providing drugs that resulted in a death by overdose is manslaughter.

Walpole Corrections Officer Arrested on Child Rape Charges

Published on: July 2, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Matthew Pike, 39, a corrections officer at MCI Cedar Junction in Walpole, was arrested this past week on Massachusetts Sex Crimes Charges alleging that he repeatedly raped a child over a 5-6 year period.

Pike was arraigned on Friday in Wrentham District Court on various sex crimes charges including 10 counts of Rape of a Child, 2 counts of Indecent Assault & Battery on a Child Under 14; Assault & Battery; and Intimidation of a Witness.

According to the Walpole Police Department, the child at issue had recently told family members of the allegations, who in turn then reported the alleged incidents to the Walpole Police Department. No other details of the case, nor the relationship between the child and Matthew Pike, have been disclosed to date.

Charlestown Man Indicted for Medford Murder

Published on: July 1, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Gerald Sullivan, 37 of Charlestown, had Massachusetts Murder Charges returned against him by a Middlesex County Grand Jury yesterday in connection with the robbery of a Medford home that left one person dead and another seriously injures.

Sullivan was indicted on criminal charges including First Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Assault to Murder, Armed Assault to Rob, Aggravated Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Unlawful Possession of Ammunition. Gerald Sullivan was also indicted as an Armed Career Criminal.

According to the Medford Police Department and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, Gerald Sullivan and another person, both wearing masks, allegedly knocked on the door at a Jerome Street apartment in Medford. Once the occupant opened the door, Sullivan allegedly pushed his way in began robbing the occupant of his money and jewelry.

Milford Teen Charged with Rape of Student at Nichols College

Published on: June 30, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

David Ceballos, 17, of Milford, was arraigned this week on several Massachusetts Sex Crimes Charges in connection with the alleged sexual assault during a freshman orientation at Nichols College.

Ceballos was arraigned in Dudley District Court and charged with Rape and Indecent Assault & Battery on a Person Over 14.

According to prosecutors, the woman, also a freshman entering his first year at Nichols College, told police that David Ceballos allegedly forced her to have sex with him against her will. She also alleged that there were four witnesses to the sexual assault. Police reportedly spoke with those four witnesses, who according to investigators, gave a consistent account with the woman.

Man Charged with 23 Year Old Murder of West Roxbury Woman

Published on: June 29, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Michael Coker, 48, was arraigned this afternoon on Massachusetts Murder Charges in connection with the death of Janet A. Phinney, whose body was found in a wooded section of West Roxbury 23 years ago.

Coker was indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury and brought before the Suffolk Superior Court this afternoon for his arraignment on the charge of First Degree Murder.

According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and Boston Police Department, Janet A. Phinney was reported missing on March 18, 1988, after last being seen by her sister in her family’s West Roxbury home. Her body was discovered three days later, partially clothed, by a neighbor.

Weymouth Man Charged with Stealing Church Donations

Published on: June 28, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Wilbert Nickerson, 76, of Weymouth, was arrested this past Sunday on Massachusetts Theft Crimes Charges for allegedly stealing several hundred dollars in church donations from the St. Jerome Parish in Weymouth.

Nickerson was arraigned Monday morning in Quincy District Court on three counts of Larceny Over $250, a felony.

According to the Weymouth Police Department and the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, Wilbert Nickerson was one of a handful of volunteers who was responsible for counting donations from the collections after church services. Church officials had reportedly suspected Nickerson of stealing from the collections, and this past Sunday, along with the Weymouth Police Department, allegedly used hidden cameras for surveillance while he counted the money.

James “Whitey” Bulger Back in Boston

Published on: June 25, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

After 16 years of ‘pursuit’ and listed as one of America’s Most Wanted, James “Whitey” Bulger was back in Boston Federal Court in South Boston yesterday to answer to the several indictments which charge him with Racketeering, Extortion, Money Laundering, Loan Sharking, Witness Tampering, Gun Crimes Charges and Murder.

In the courtroom, along with members of his alleged victims’ families, and members of his own family, including former Massachusetts Senate President William M. Bulger, the 81 year old James Bulger reportedly sat calmly and collected throughout the initial proceedings.

To the surprise of many, James Bulger asked to be given a court-appointed lawyer despite the government having seized approximately $800,000 in cash from his apartment at the time of his arrest. In the alternative, he asked the Judge Magistrate to return that money so he could hire his own attorney.

Lowell Police Officer Indicted for Rape of Two Prostitutes

Published on: June 24, 2011 | by Lefteris K. Travayiakis, Esq.

Lowell Police Officer Aravanh Lakmany was indicted this past week by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office for Massachusetts Sex Crimes Charges alleging he raped two prostitutes while on duty.

Aravanh Lakmany was indicted on sex crimes charges of Rape and Soliciting Prostitution.

According to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, Aravanh Lakmany allegedly solicited several prostitutes from 2009 going forward while he was working the overnight shift for the Lowell Police Department. He is alleged to have asked the purported prostitutes to get into the back seat of his police cruiser, driven them to a remote area, and then alleged rape them or engage in other sexual acts with them.