Boston, December 20, 2025
Eric Celestino, a member of the H-Block gang in Boston, has pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges following a multi-year investigation into organized crime. His guilty plea is part of a broader initiative by law enforcement to tackle drug trafficking and violence associated with gangs in the city. He faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for March 2026. The investigation has resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of significant quantities of drugs and firearms.
Boston
Gang Member Pleads Guilty in Extensive Drug Conspiracy Case
In a significant development stemming from a multi-year investigation into organized crime, Eric Celestino, a 31-year-old member of the violent Boston-based H-Block gang, pleaded guilty on December 18, 2025, in federal court in Boston to drug conspiracy charges. His plea marks a notable step in the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address gang-related drug trafficking, shootings, and broader violence that have affected communities within the city and surrounding areas.
Celestino, a resident of Boston, admitted to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, a charge that carries the potential for up to 20 years in federal prison, along with a supervised release term of at least three years and up to life, and a fine of up to $1 million. U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin has scheduled his sentencing for March 18, 2026.
Details of the Conspiracy and Investigation
The guilty plea by Eric Celestino is part of a larger federal case where he was one of 10 H-Block gang members and associates initially charged in August 2024. The comprehensive investigation that led to these charges commenced in 2021, spurred by a documented increase in gang-related drug trafficking, incidents of gunfire, and other violent acts.
Court documents reveal Celestino’s active role in the conspiracy from 2022 through 2023. He was identified as a supplier of powdered cocaine and cocaine base, also known as crack, to co-conspirators who then engaged in drug transactions with an undercover law enforcement officer.
The multi-agency investigation involved the seizure of substantial quantities of illicit substances, including over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl. Additionally, more than 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper were recovered, alongside four firearms during the course of various arrests. Since the inception of the investigation in 2021, law enforcement officials have attributed 12 separate incidents of gunfire to escalating tensions involving H-Block gang associates.
In total, six members and associates of the H-Block gang were arrested and charged with drug dealing in Boston and its neighboring communities. Four other individuals linked to the gang were already in state custody when federal charges were brought.
The Broader Reach of H-Block’s Activities
Beyond drug trafficking, the investigation also uncovered charges against three H-Block members and associates related to a conspiracy to smuggle illegal drugs, specifically synthetic cannabinoids known as “K2,” into a Massachusetts prison. This aspect of the case highlights the pervasive reach of gang influence, extending even into correctional facilities.
The H-Block gang, often cited in charging documents as one of Boston’s most feared and influential city-wide gangs, has a history rooted in the Roxbury section of Boston. Originally formed in the 1980s under the name Humboldt Raiders, the group re-emerged in the 2000s as H-Block, cementing its reputation through persistent violent confrontations, including a documented incident in 2015 where a member critically shot a Boston Police officer without warning.
Celestino’s guilty plea follows those of several other H-Block members involved in the same overarching case. Jerry Gray, 28, was sentenced in August 2025 to 51 months in prison for drug distribution and firearms offenses. Avery Lewis, 33, received a sentence of 46 months in prison in June 2025 for drug conspiracy charges. Dennis Wilson, 36, also pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges in April 2025. These outcomes collectively underscore the diligent, multi-agency effort, involving the Massachusetts State Police, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, and local police departments from Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, and Watertown, to dismantle networks that disrupt the peace and safety of the city’s inhabitants. Such sustained endeavors reflect a community’s quiet resolve against the corrosive effects of organized violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who is Eric Celestino?
Eric Celestino, 31, of Boston, is a member of the violent Boston-based gang H-Block.
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What did Eric Celestino plead guilty to?
Eric Celestino pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (drug conspiracy charges).
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When did Eric Celestino plead guilty?
Eric Celestino pleaded guilty on December 18, 2025.
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Where did Eric Celestino plead guilty?
Eric Celestino pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston.
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When is Eric Celestino’s sentencing scheduled?
Eric Celestino’s sentencing is scheduled for March 18, 2026.
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What was the scope of the investigation into the H-Block gang?
The multi-year investigation into the H-Block gang began in 2021 in response to an uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings, and violence in Boston. It led to charges against 10 H-Block gang members and associates.
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What substances were seized during the H-Block investigation?
Over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base (crack cocaine), and fentanyl, along with over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper, were seized during the investigation.
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What is the potential sentence for drug conspiracy charges?
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.
Key Features of the H-Block Gang Investigation and Plea
| Feature | Description | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Defendant | Eric Celestino, 31, H-Block Gang member | Boston (City-level) |
| Charge | Drug Conspiracy (conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances) | Federal |
| Plea Date | December 18, 2025 | N/A |
| Plea Location | Federal court in Boston | Boston (City-level) |
| Sentencing Date | March 18, 2026 | N/A |
| Investigation Start | 2021 | N/A |
| Reason for Investigation | Uptick in gang-related drug trafficking, shootings, and violence | Boston (City-level) |
| Drugs Seized | Over 500 grams of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl; over 20,000 doses of drug-laced paper | Regional (Boston and surrounding communities) |
| Firearms Seized | Four firearms | Regional (Boston and surrounding communities) |
| Gunfire Incidents Attributed | 12 incidents since 2021 | Boston (City-level) |
| Total Charged (H-Block) | 10 members and associates | Regional (Boston and surrounding communities) |
| H-Block Gang Origin | Formed in the 1980s as Humboldt Raiders in Roxbury, re-emerged in 2000s as H-Block | Boston (City-level) |
| Law Enforcement Agencies | Federal, Massachusetts State Police, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts Department of Corrections, Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, Watertown Police Departments | Multi-jurisdictional (Federal, State-level, Local) |
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Author: STAFF HERE BOSTON WRITER
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