Crime & Safety

Malden Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Drug Ring

See how much time he'll be spending behind bars.

A 21-year-old Malden man pleaded guilty to firearm and drug charges Friday in connection with the Malden-based drug ring known as the “Maplewood Organization,” according to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office.

Brendan Joyner pleaded guilty in Middlesex Superior Court to the following charges: possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, improper storage of a firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of a Class B controlled substance (oxycodone).

Sentence

Find out what's happening in Somervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Judge Kimberly Budd sentenced Joyner to 2.5 years in prison. He’ll serve six months behind bars, and the rest of his sentence will be suspended for three years, according to the DA’s office.

“As part of this coordinated investigation, police obtained a search warrant to search this defendant’s home and discovered an illegally modified, large-caliber weapon, a .44 Magnum Ruger Super Blackhawk revolver with a defaced serial number, as well as live ammunition and illegal narcotics in this defendant’s bedroom,” Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said in a statement.

Find out what's happening in Somervillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We will continue to aggressively prosecute criminals that possess illegal firearms, to ensure the safety of the residents of Malden and the other communities of Middlesex County,” she added.

‘Maplewood Organzation’

According to authorities, the “Maplewood Organization” trafficked more than 400 pounds of marijuana from Northern California to Malden.

Joyner was one of 11 suspects arrested in connection with the organization after an investigation that began in October 2012.

Two other men, 35-year-old Herschel Senor of Medford and 21-year-old Joshua Joyner of Malden, have also pleaded guilty to drug charges.

Six more Malden men and one Northern California man have been indicted on a variety of firearm and drug charges and their cases are pending.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.