Overview
- Deputy director LaMar Cook of the governor’s Western Massachusetts office was arrested in Springfield, fired immediately, and charged with cocaine trafficking and illegal firearm and ammunition possession.
- Authorities say a controlled delivery at 436 Dwight St., the Springfield State Office Building, led to the interception of roughly 8 kilograms of suspected cocaine and a search of Cook’s office under a warrant.
- Earlier on Oct. 10, investigators seized about 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine from packages at Hotel UMass in Amherst, with evidence consistent with the Springfield seizure.
- Cook pleaded not guilty at arraignment and was ordered held pending a detention/dangerousness hearing, according to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office.
- The investigation is led by Massachusetts State Police units with the Hampden DA and Homeland Security Investigations, and prosecutors say additional charges tied to the Amherst seizure remain possible.