Police charge 5 with running painkiller pipeline from China to Franklin County

By JOSHUA SOLOMON

For the Gazette

Published: 12-12-2017 11:06 PM

GREENFIELD — Five people who police allege operated an illicit painkiller pipeline from China to Franklin County have been indicted by the Franklin County Grand Jury.

Police allege the five people were involved in importing as much as half a kilogram of Oxycodone per week for the past two years from China, for sale and use in Franklin County, according to a press release from the Northwestern district attorney’s office issue Monday afternoon.

The arrests were part of the work of the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force, in partnership with the Massachusetts State Police STOP Team, the Digital Evidence Management Unit, the Greenfield Police Department and the law enforcement from New Hampshire and Florida.

“This investigation’s goal was to disrupt and dismantle this alleged drug trafficking organization from top to bottom,” Chief Trial Counsel of the Northwestern district attorney’s office Jeremy Bucci said in a press release. “The Task Force continues to demonstrate an absolute commitment to ridding our community of illegal opioids that are devastating and poisoning our community.”

Bail for the five individuals ranged from $5,000 to $500,000 cash, following the reading of their indictments in court on Dec. 1.

The alleged drug ring was partly run out of the 55 Washington St., Greenfield, home of Yvette Judd, 47, and William Judd, 50. It was also run out of their Vernon, Florida, house, according to the district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors allege the Judds ordered pills from China and then had them delivered to various individuals and locations. They then notified drug traffickers in this region to pick up the packages, according to the DA’s Office.

The grand jury’s investigation found “over $125,000 in cash deposits into known accounts of Yvette and William Judd over the past two years,” the press release stated.

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The following individuals were indicted on Dec.1 in connection with this alleged drug ring: Sherri Williams, 47; Michael Williams, 53; Jennifer Benoit, 49; and both Judds. All their addresses were not immediately available.

William Judd was arraigned and held on $500,000 cash bail and is due back in court for his pretrial hearing on Jan. 22. He is charged on eight counts, including six different counts of trafficking in Oxycodone, plus money laundering and conspiracy to violate the drug laws.

Yvette Judd is currently in custody in Florida and will be brought before a Massachusetts court at a later, unspecified time. She is charged on eight counts as well, including six different counts of trafficking of Oxycodone, plus money laundering and conspiracy to violate the drug laws.

Sherri Williams is being held on $60,000 bail and is due back in court for her pretrial hearing Jan. 10. She is charged on five counts: trafficking of Oxycodone, money laundering, conspiracy to violate the drug laws and two counts of intimidation of a witness.

Michael Williams was released on $5,000 bail and is due back in court for a pretrial hearing on Jan. 10. He was also charged on five counts: trafficking of Oxycodone, money laundering, conspiracy to violate the drug laws and two counts of intimidation of a witness.

Sherri and Michael Williams were both arrested on warrants in Greenfield, Dec. 4, at their home at 624 Leyden Road, in Greenfield.

Jennifer Benoit, 49, is being held in New Hampshire and will appear for her arraignment in Massachusetts at a later date. She is charged on three counts: trafficking in Oxycodone, money laundering and conspiracy to violate the drug laws.

Benoit, who is Yvette Judd’s sister, is alleged to have received multiple packages on behalf of the organization, according to the DA’s office. They would be delivered to her home on 5 Bullock Road, in Richmond, N.H., which acted as “safe house for those packages,” the press release said. She is alleged to have laundered large sums of cash on behalf of the organization.

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