Reading Man Sentenced In Meth Trafficking Conspiracy

READING, MA — A Reading man was sentenced last week for his role in a conspiracy to distribute meth in the Boston area, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

In May 2020, Aaron Smith pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.

Smith, 34, began buying meth from two dealers in Boston in late 2018, federal authorities said. This evolved into a partnership in which Smith paid wholesale cost for meth being shipped from Phoenix, the USAO said.

In April 2019, investigators seized a two-pound package of meth from Phoenix that was being shipped to Massachusetts. Investigators said Smith had put cash toward this purchase and was supposed to receive one pound.

In August of that year, Smith bought a pound of meth from a cooperating witness, who said the drugs were coming from a new supplier in California, federal authorities said. Smith met with the witness at a coffee shop in Boston and received a pound of meth that he believed to be from the new supplier, the USAO said.

Smith was arrested after leaving the coffee shop.

A judge sentenced Smith to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. In handing the sentence down, the judge cited Smith's participation in the court-run RISE program, a voluntary rehabilitation program offered to people facing sentencing in federal court