A staff member of Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has been charged with cocaine trafficking and has been dismissed from his role. LaMar Cook, 45, from Springfield, was arrested on Tuesday and is facing serious charges that include cocaine trafficking, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. Law enforcement officials reported the seizure of multiple parcels containing approximately 21 kilograms of suspected cocaine, which included around 8 kilograms intercepted during a controlled delivery operation in Springfield.
The delivery occurred at the Springfield State Office Building, where Cook was employed. Following this, investigators executed a search warrant for Cook’s former office. This investigation was prompted by two earlier seizures conducted earlier this month. On October 10, law enforcement intercepted and examined two suspicious packages at Hotel UMass in Amherst, which contained about 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine. The evidence collected during this operation matched the narcotics involved in the recent Springfield delivery, and the investigation related to the UMass seizure is still ongoing, possibly leading to more charges in Hampshire County.
Cook held the position of deputy director in the governor’s Western Massachusetts office, acting as a liaison for the region. In response to the incident, Healey’s office released a statement expressing that Cook’s conduct represented a significant breach of public trust and confirmed his immediate termination from the administration. “This criminal investigation is ongoing, and our administration will work with law enforcement to assist them in their work,” the statement read.
Notably, Cook was also a co-founder of the Back to School Brighter Initiative, which aimed at providing students in Springfield with essential school supplies, haircuts, and support for a successful academic year. The ongoing investigation is being handled by the Massachusetts State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team, assisted by several other agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations. Cook is set to be arraigned in Springfield District Court on Wednesday, marking a significant and unfortunate turn of events both for him personally and for the governor’s office.