Thursday, 4:30 PM
2d Boston police officer pleads guilty to drug trafficking
By Jonathan Saltzman, Globe Staff
A second Boston police officer pleaded guilty today to federal charges for participating in a drug-trafficking scheme that has rocked the department, just as he and the alleged ringleader were about to go to trial.
Nelson Carrasquillo, 36, a decorated officer who was suspended after his arrest in the summer of 2006, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine and two counts of attempting to aid and abet before District Judge William G. Young, his lawyer said. He faces 10 years to life imprisonment when sentenced on Feb. 5.
On Sept. 10, another officer charged in the case, Carlos A. Pizarro, also pleaded guilty. The trial of the alleged ringleader, Roberto "Kiko" Pulido, began today with jury selection.
Carrasquillo's wife, Sandra Marrero, said after federal marshals took him into custody that he is not cooperating with prosecutors in the case against Pulido but pleaded guilty because he wanted to avoid putting his family through the strain of a trial.
"He said it was the right thing to do," Marrero said. "I'm as proud of him today as I was the day he graduated from the [police] academy."
