An aide to Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey was taken into custody on drug trafficking charges Tuesday evening after authorities allegedly intercepted a cocaine shipment intended for delivery at the statehouse in Springfield.
Lamar Cook, 45, pleaded not guilty and is set to be charged Wednesday. His charges include trafficking over 200 grams of cocaine, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of ammunition.
Bail is expected to be set at $25,000, pending the results of a hearing scheduled for Friday, according to his defense attorney.
According to prosecutors, a package weighing around 8 kilograms was intercepted last Saturday. Following this, an undercover agent repackaged 225 grams of the narcotics and conducted a controlled delivery to the offices where Cook was employed.
Three days later, the Hampden District Attorney’s Office announced Cook was arrested during a traffic stop.
Cook’s LinkedIn profile identifies him as the deputy director of the Western Massachusetts Governor’s Office, a role he has held for about two and a half years.
In his position, he describes himself as a vital liaison between state government and the Western Massachusetts region, responsible for coordinating government efforts and policies across four counties.
Following the arrest, a spokesperson for Governor Healey mentioned that Cook was terminated “virtually immediately” after they learned about his charges. The spokesperson characterized the conduct as “unacceptable and a serious breach of public trust.”
The spokesperson further noted that the investigation is continuing, and the administration plans to collaborate with law enforcement.
As for comments from Governor Healey’s office, they did not provide any additional information when contacted.
The Hampden District Attorney’s Office reported that the investigation originated from two previous drug seizures earlier this month. Law enforcement had intercepted two suspicious packages at the UMass Hotel in Amherst.
Cook previously worked for over six years at UMass Hotels, even serving as the hotel director, as per his LinkedIn information.
The district attorney’s office emphasized that this investigation is still “ongoing and active,” stating that authorities have confiscated around 21 kilograms of suspected cocaine to date, which includes the 8 kilograms seized recently and another 13 kilograms from an earlier seizure on October 10.
