A federal grand jury indicted three Massachusetts men in connection with the seizure of nearly 99 kilograms of cocaine in Massachusetts, New York, and Puerto Rico.
Joel Betances, 43, of Revere; Noel Betances, 42, of Chelsea; and Reylin Segura, 31, of Boston, were each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute controlled narcotics, according to the US Attorney’s Office.
Additional charges, such as possession with intent to distribute cocaine and distribution offenses, were filed depending on the offender.
Noel Betances and Segura were previously detained in August of 2025. Joel Betances was detained in the Dominican Republic on November 19 and will appear in Boston federal court at a later date.
The inquiry began in 2023, when investigators discovered suspicious parcels being sent from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts. One confiscated shipment reportedly included five kg of cocaine. Prosecutors claim Noel and Joel Betances were seen collecting more suspected drugs shipments from Chelsea, Revere, and Boston that summer.
According to court papers, the investigation widened in 2025 when Joel Betances reportedly provided an individual with 25 kg of cocaine on July 26 for transportation to New York. Police found the drugs from a vehicle near Colton, New York.
According to authorities, Betances was seen leaving a Revere residence on August 12 with a package that he had exchanged with Segura for a plastic bag. Authorities ultimately found that the box contained four kilograms of cocaine and the bag contained approximately $58,000 in wrapped cash. A search of the Revere residence yielded an additional 65 kilograms of cocaine and approximately $341,780.
Officials estimate the recovered cocaine is worth at least $1.4 million.
Charges involving five kilograms or more of cocaine attract mandatory minimum sentences of ten years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and penalties of up to $10 million.
Offenses involving 500 grams or more result in a minimum of five years and a maximum of 40 years in jail, as well as supervised release and fines of up to $5 million. A federal court will determine the sentence in accordance with the United States Sentencing Guidelines.
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