FRAMINGHAM, MA - Four undocumented Brazilian nationals currently residing in Framingham have been arrested for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to import pharmaceutical-grade controlled substances and other misbranded drugs from Brazil and distribute them throughout the greater Framingham area.

Douglas Reis de Souza, 40; Dekny Marcos de Carvaleho Reis, 33; Dekmara de Carvalho Reis, 34; and Wandiscleia Ferreira de Souza Guimaraes, 41, all of Framingham, have been charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances.

Search warrants were executed in a luxury apartment complex called "The Green at 9&90", at 1630 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA. The apartment was allegedly used by Reis de Souza and his co-conspirators as a black-market doctor’s office.

There, law enforcement allegedly observed an examination/consultation area, used syringes ostensibly used to inject “patients,” as well as large quantities of controlled substances and non-controlled prescription and/or misbranded drugs:

The defendants were arrested yesterday morning and, following initial appearances in federal court in Boston, were detained pending a hearing scheduled for March 13, 2025.

According to the charging documents, Reis de Souza held himself out to be a legitimate pharmacist to the Portuguese-speaking community in the greater Framingham area, doing business as “Droga Reis” (Portuguese for “Drug King”). In support of his operation, Reis de Souza allegedly distributed the following business card, which has been translated from Portuguese:

Douglas Reis, Pharmacist
[REDACTED PHONE NUMBER]
Remedies from Brazil
Service 24 H
Call me on Whats[App] and I can help you
Don’t miss your work day
Pharmacist with over 22 years of experience
Indication of medicines for adult and pediatric use
Contraceptive pills and injectables
Injectable cocktail to treat muscular and orthopedic problems
Perforation of ear cells.

Reis de Souza allegedly imported pharmaceutical-grade drugs, including controlled substances from various locations in Brazil and then re-sold them to customers. It is alleged that at least 24 packages sent from Brazil to Reis de Souza’s drug trafficking organization were seized during the investigation which began in October 2023 – all of which were found to contain illegally imported pharmaceutical-grade controlled substances.

“For years, these defendants allegedly exploited a community’s trust to peddle black-market prescription drugs under the guide of legitimacy. They entered our country illegally and put countless individuals’ health and safety in danger, all for profit,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “If you or someone you know was impacted by this scheme, we urge you to come forward and report it to law enforcement. Our office and our law enforcement partners will not allow reckless, exploitative criminals to operate in the shadows.”

It is alleged that Reis de Souza employed Carvaleho Reis, Dekmara de Carvalho Reis and Wandiscleia Ferreira de Souza Guimaraes to process, fill and deliver orders for controlled substances and other prescription drugs that customers paid Reis de Souza for.

At no time did Reis de Souza possess any license authorizing him to dispense these drugs. It is alleged that Reis de Souza collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits as a result of the drug trafficking scheme.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million.

The defendants are subject to deportation upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

If you were a customer of Reis De Souza, or his d/b/a “Droga Reis,” and you suffered any adverse events, please contact USAMA.VictimAssistance@usdoj.gov..

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts Press Release