Town Employee Charged With Drug Possession, Intent to Distribute
Authorities seize more than five pounds of marijuana and $30,000 in cash.
A Reading town employee with more than two decades of service was arrested Tuesday after authorities say they seized more than five pounds of marijuana and other drugs.
Joseph Guazzaloca, 56, joined the town’s payroll in 1974, according to Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner, and serves as a foreman in the town’s parks division.
On Tuesday, police arrested Guazzaloca and Moo Hwang, 27, both of Reading, and charged them with a list of offenses in connection with allegedly receiving a suspected shipment of narcotics through the mail.
Police charged Guazzaloca with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, conspiracy to violate drug laws, two counts of possession of a Class B substance, two counts of possession of a Class C substance and drug violation in a school or park zone.
Hechenbleikner said he considered these serious allegations, but that U.S. law says all suspects are innocent until proven guilty, so the town will proceed with that in mind.
Police also charged Hwang with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, drug violation near a park or school zone and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
According to a release from the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, a postal inspector contacted Massachusetts State Police to notify them of a suspected narcotics package due to be shipped to a Reading residence. As a result, the release said, authorities obtained two search warrants for 61 Arcadia Avenue after a police dog detected narcotics in the package.
The inspector delivered the package around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday and authorities executed the search warrants, the release said. Authorities found Hwang outside the residence and Guazzaloca inside the residence with the suspicious package.
The release said authorities seized approximately five pounds of “high grade” marijuana in the package, along with more marijuana already in the home. Authorities also seized additional drugs and paraphernalia and $30,000 in cash, the release said
Reading Police Chief James Cormier said that the department appreciated the cooperation of District Attorney Gerard Leone, the Massachusetts State Police and the United States Postal Service.
“Working together to reduce the illegal narcotic trade in our community is of the highest priority of the Reading Police Department,” Cormier said in the release. “We recognize the far reaching implications of substance issues and their affects within our community, it is essential we continue to aggressively work against this scourge."
The release said Woburn District Court Judge Marianne Hinkle ordered Guazzaloca held on $500 cash bail and Hwang held on $250 cash bail. They scheduled to next visit the court on March 4 for a pretrial conference.
Karl Weld
2:26 pm on Thursday, January 6, 2011
I would hope Town Management is conducting an investigation of their own to see if any other town employees are involved in some way, either by purchasing or helping to distribute. Having $30,000 in cash on hand makes me think this has been an ongoing enterprise. Not knowing the going rate for pot sales, but using a price of $50 per 1/8th oz, this is $32,000 worth of dope. In short, who knew what when?
ignorance is unappealing
1:27 am on Thursday, November 22, 2012
Marijuana is the one drug that is not lethal. Though Alcohol and everything else can send you to your grave. Look up Alcohol and all the money the government is making and taxes you are paying for one of the deadliest drugs out there and its legal. Expensive and kills....kills and kills. Pot is a worry I see.
Mike18
10:16 pm on Saturday, January 8, 2011
Whatever happened to being innocent until proven guilty? There are too many questions that need to answered before judgment can be passed. He has worked for Town Management for a long time and deserves the benefit of the doubt. And he has kept school grounds trimmed and streets cleared of snow, often in uncomfortable circumstances. Let's wait for additional information before coming to smug conclusions, and we owe him that much.
MichaelT
Mike18
10:27 pm on Saturday, January 8, 2011
Whatever happened to the concept of being innocent until proven guilty? There seem to be far more questions than easy answers at this point. It clearly is an ONGOING investigation, so summary judgment seems premature. He has worked for Town Management for a long time, often in uncomfortable circumstances, to keep school yards trimmed and snow covered streets clean. Let law enforcement proceed with the investigation, but so should due process. There may be mitigating circumstances, and at a minimum, his family doesn't deserve smug verdicts. Mike18
ANONYMOUS
12:34 am on Sunday, January 16, 2011
MOO HWANG IS OF GREAT CHARACTER. COPS SHOULD UTILIZE THERE RESOURSES TO OF MORE GREATER ISSUES
ANONYMOUS
12:38 am on Sunday, January 16, 2011
what is the result of this supposed crime.... waste of time... waste of tax money... which is why we are in debt. paying grade school grads out of our pocket.
John Smith
5:51 pm on Sunday, January 16, 2011
SHOULD OF BEEN $40 BAIL.
Matt M. Casey
11:58 am on Monday, January 17, 2011
Two comments have been deleted from this space for making accusations of another commenter.
Angela
3:18 pm on Friday, January 21, 2011
I DO NOT agree with Donna! First of all, innocent untill proven guitly! Second of all, this guy has done great deeds for this town for over 30 years. I have witnessed him helping the elderly, assisting children and maintaining a positive attitude through years of nasty snow storms and disgraced parks and ball fields. I do not know this town worker personally but track records tell a lot (not police records, I checked and this guy is clean) So please Donna, before you go calling people "idiots" get to know the story and the individual! Again, INNOCENT UNTILL PROVEN GUITLY!
Jack Edwards
5:39 pm on Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Hey Donna,
I know this guy personally and to call him an idiot your an idiot. Get to know the facts. Don't go on raw emotion and stupidity because you think you are god and know everything. You should have the book thrown at you for being an idiot. I bet you this guy has helped more people in one day then you have helped out in your entire life time. Not to mention he takes care of his elderly father every day. So to act like you god and to know everything I must hail to you.
Thank you have a good day now
Eileen
12:27 pm on Thursday, February 3, 2011
Hey Angela, Jack and Mike,
Wake up People!! Why do you think we have such a big drug problem here in town?
Taking care of your father, helping the elderly and being a great town employee doesn't give you the right to provide the people of this town( many are youths) with illegal drugs and that is just what these people are getting away with. And they are getting wealthy doing so !!
At the very least he was hanging with the wrong crowd and at 50 years old he should know better!! I commend the Reading police for their quick action in arresting this man and his accomplice. People don't get arrested for nothing!! Do you really think the average citizen gets drugs sent to them in packages?? PLEASE give me a break!! . If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it is a duck!!
Donna
12:34 pm on Thursday, February 3, 2011
Thanks Eileen.. for basically commenting in a similar way that I had done...only to be personally attacked by people in this thread. I never referred to myself as God...and would never attach others on this thread..only the subject matter of the article in the first place.
I know 2 Reading police officers personally..and there is a drug problem here...and yes a 50 year old man should know better...but be cautious...you too may be attacked in this thread for being thoughtful....
ignorance is unappealing
1:10 am on Thursday, November 22, 2012
your brainless you coward
Eileen
2:41 pm on Thursday, February 3, 2011
I'm not afraid to speak my mind !! Some people are just not well informed or they are very naive which is why they lash out at people who speak up in this forum. I know the police officers too and they can't keep up with all the break ins in town which we all know are drug related ( which fuels the drug problems at the schools.) These people that are trafficking drugs here are thugs and I don't care if they help God himself that doesn't give them the right. I have been a victim of that drug related crime and it is no fun but I guess I'm preaching to the choir so thanks for the support .
ignorance is unappealing
1:16 am on Thursday, November 22, 2012
2011 and your holding onto something that will never have an effect on you. War...Rape...Murder...people with no shelter no food. Thats something that would strike me as a concern. This day and age.
ignorance is unappealing
1:23 am on Thursday, November 22, 2012
Thats wonderful to speak your mind. Where did God come in? I would suppose you go about and give back to help overcome your demons of victimization since this situation effects you so deeply and personally. Though since you seem to know so much about this situation I suppose you stick with your internet posts.
Mike
8:43 am on Saturday, February 5, 2011
Jack....please read what you wrote below and reflect a bit.....
"Get to know the facts. Don't go on raw emotion and stupidity because you think you are god and know everything. You should have the book thrown at you for being an idiot. I bet you this guy has helped more people in one day then you have helped out in your entire life time. "
Are we to believe that the "facts" are as you state them or are the facts as the state police and district attorney state them? Hmmmmmmmm...............I'll go with the latter.
Who is going on "raw emotion and stupidy?" You appear to be blinded by them. I too believe in the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, however, I'll go out on a limb here and predict that the "book" will be thrown at this fellow.
While you say he has "helped" so many people, how many people and families (though innocent until proven guilty) do you think he has torn apart?
Are you upset because you were fooled by this fellow or are you upset for other reasons?
Let's see how this plays out.................
chingchong228
7:35 pm on Monday, April 25, 2011
I know Joe personally. Nicest guy I ever knew. Gave me bruins tickets. Played ball with me. Bought me an ice cream. I would be low on hockey pucks he would give me a couple. He would never do anything like this. Not saying any names but I am almost certain it was not Joe.
AnonLikeU
10:25 am on Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Settle down all. Based upon what we know from this article, it doesn't look good for Joe or his pal. This has nothing to do with whether Joe is a good guy or not. Lots of good, nice people get dragged down by drugs and bad choices. Lots of good kids, our kids, get involved in things they shouldn't. Joe may be innocent as some suggest, but I wouldn't put my money on it. At the same time, I do believe that Joe probably is a very nice guy. That's how these things work. It's sad.