Like mother, like son: Lynn man admits role in North Shore fentanyl ring two weeks after his mom did the same

Vincent "Fatz" Caruso, 27, today pleaded guilty to running a fentanyl ring north of Boston that included buying a pill-making machine that could turn out tens of thousands of pills an hour, the US Attorney's office reports.

His mother, Laurie, pleaded guilty for her role in the ring last month. Still awaiting trial is a third alleged member of the gang: YouTube B-Lister Ernest "Yo Pesci" Johnson.

Fatz pleaded guilty in US District Court in Boston to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, cocaine, marijuana and other controlled substances; one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery (Hobbs Act robbery); and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the US Attorney's office reports.

Under his plea deal, Caruso will be sentenced to at least 15 years, the US Attorney's office reports.

Caruso was nabbed in an investigation the feds called Operation Street Sweepah. Nabbed separately as part of the same North-Shore-based investigation were a pair of champagne-swilling lovebirds who sold guns north of Boston.

According to the US Attorney's office:

According to the charging documents, Caruso, a self-admitted Crip gang member, operated a large and sophisticated DTO with multiple subordinates that sold counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl to street gangs for further distribution on the North Shore. During the investigation, Caruso’s DTO was identified as a common supply source of counterfeit, pressed fentanyl pills and other controlled substances for several street gangs responsible for the uptick in violence. During today’s plea hearing, Caruso admitted that his DTO distributed over 30 kilograms of fentanyl, largely in the form of pressed fentanyl pills. At times during the conspiracy, Caruso manufactured his own fentanyl pills, and later, the DTO received multiple large deliveries of at least 50,000 pills.

Fatz and his mother, who had no street name, also laundered at least some of their proceeds through gambling at a New Hampshire casino.