On March 11, 2023, Defreitas was arrested at a hotel, marking the beginning of a legal journey that would lead to his conviction on 92 criminal charges. That same day, law enforcement executed search warrants at several of his properties, including his hotel room, trailer in Holbrook, and vehicle used for trafficking drugs. During the searches, officers recovered significant amounts of illegal substances, including cocaine and fentanyl, as well as firearms, drug packaging materials, and equipment for weighing narcotics. They also found numerous hotel room key cards, and bank cards in the names of two overdose victims.
In a surprising turn, Defreitas took the stand on May 18, 2023, to testify in his defense. However, his testimony was marked by repeated lies under oath, specifically about his involvement in drug dealing activities.
The case culminated on March 11, 2025, two years to the day after his arrest, when a jury found Defreitas guilty on multiple charges. The trial was conducted under Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft. Among the 92 counts for which he was convicted were serious felonies including:
Operating as a Major Drug Trafficker, a Class A-I felony
Multiple counts of Criminal Sale and Possession of Controlled Substances
Perjury and Tampering with Evidence
On April 29, 2025, Defreitas was sentenced to 53 years in prison, marking the end of a long and complex legal battle. Notably, Defreitas had represented himself during the trial.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jacob T. Kubetz and Raquel G. Tisi of the Narcotics Bureau, with support from Paralegal Lisa Zimmerman, Research Analyst Brooke Baade, and Investigative Auditor Carlos Gutama, all from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. The investigation itself was led by Detective Investigator William Warren from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s East End Task Force.
It’s important to remember that criminal complaints and indictments are only accusatory instruments, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. In this case, Defreitas faced justice for his crimes, with the law taking its course.
