North Shore web character Ernest Johnson, also referred to as “Yo Pesci,” was sentenced to seven and a half years by a U.S. District Court decide Monday morning for his unlawful dealing with of firearms — one other chapter closed within the fall of Vincent “Fatz” Caruso’s fentanyl empire.
“It felt like finally found my lane,” mentioned Johnson of the viral movies that earned him some web fame and ultimately led to his arrest. “People always told me I was funny, I should be a comedian. I found something I was good at, but I took the wrong approach.”
Johnson — who the prosecution described as “something of the social media spokesman” for the drug ring — was arrested in June 2021 with ringleader Vincent “Fatz” Caruso, his mom Laurie Caruso and one other co-conspirator and pleaded responsible to a cost of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Judge Leo Sorokin sentenced Johnson to seven and half years in jail — lower than the ten years requested by the prosecution — plus three years supervised launch and necessary psychological well being therapy and drug and alcohol restrictions.
Vincent and Laurie Caruso had been sentenced to over 20 years and 9 years respectively in June 2022 on drug and firearm fees associated to their multi-million greenback fentanyl empire, which distributed tens of millions of laced tablets to gangs on the North Shore and in Maine.
Attorneys for either side acknowledged Johnson’s separation from the household’s drug enterprise. Though he acquired $500 every week and shelter from the household for actions like minding the home and children and driving, there’s “not evidence he was a participating member in Caruso’s conspiracy,” protection legal professional Kevin Barron mentioned.
Johnson’s arrest stemmed from movies displaying him with quite a few firearms. Because of prior felony convictions — regarding a firearm offense, threats and misconduct throughout his incarceration — the social media content material creator was not legally allowed to be in possession of weapons.
The prosecution confirmed a number of of Johnson’s viral movies through the listening to — from exuberant cartwheeling and belting Jennifer Lopez’s “Waiting for Tonight” to tossing high-capacity firearms and speaking about “war.”
“The videos are funny, except when they’re not,” mentioned Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Mallard, arguing the content material “glamorized” violence and undermined the notion of justice and accountability within the neighborhood.
The penalty for his offense was vastly elevated by his legal historical past and an “obliterated” serial quantity on one of many firearms — particulars the protection mentioned had been mitigated by circumstances together with identified PTSD and the truth that the scratched serial quantity was nonetheless legible.
During a private assertion to the court docket, Johnson mentioned he was sorry to his household, particularly his mom, for “embarrassing” them and for “losing the court docket’s time with (his) immaturity.
The decide decreased Johnson’s sentence from the “high” pointers — although nonetheless dominated above the protection’s requested 5 years — and inspired Johnson to make “better choices.”
“You have some talent it appears,” Judge Leo Sorokin mentioned. “You should focus on fostering that talent.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com”