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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, February 18, 2022 Page 7 Tiny Rascals Gang member pleads guilty to drug trafficking conspiracy By Christopher Roberson J aiir Coleman, 22, of Malden, pleaded guilty on February 10 to being involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy and a series of shootings in connection with the conspiracy. According to federal law enforcement officials, Coleman was a member of the Tiny Rascals Gang. He was part of a “long-running conspiracy” to distribute fentanyl, MASKS | FROM PAGE 1 tenson erased any mystery as to what path this city would follow. The nearly 7,000 Malden Public Schools population of students and staff will continue to wear protective facemasks inside its seven school buildings after Feb. 28 and for the foreseeable future, until at least March 14, Mayor Christenson announced on Feb. 11. The wearing of facemasks in school buildings has been put into place statewide to guard against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which has been a worldwide pandemic for nearly two full years since it was first declared in March 2020. The Mayor was clear on the timetable that is in place for the city, which would be contingent on a formal decision by the Malden School Committee, which initiated the inschool mask mandate that has been in place this entire school year at a late-August meeting. “The next step is for the Malden School Committee to determine whether to revise that policy, which we plan to do at our next official meeting on Monday, March 7 at 6 pm at City Hall in the Council Chamber,” Mayor Christenson, who also serves as chairperson of the School Committee, said in an official statement on Friday. Even if the School Committee votes to end the school mask mandate, it would not go into effect until at least a full week after such a vote, as of Monday, March 14. A lifting of the mask mandate would still include making it an option for any student or staff member to continue wearing a mask. Positive COVID-19 cases have been plummeting dramatically, both locally and statewide, across cities and towns and in the schools themselves. According to the Malden Public Schools’ “COVID Dashboard,” as of Wednesday this week, only 21 methamphetamine and crack cocaine in the Greater Boston area as well as in Bangor, Maine. In addition, Coleman admitted to committing six shootings, four of which took place in Chelsea and Somerville in November 2019. The fifth shooting, which happened in Somerville in May 2020, targeted individuals who were believed to be rival gang members. The sixth shooting took place in Cambridge three months later when Coleman used a machine gun to open fire on a group of individuals in response to a video that was posted on social media. Coleman was arrested on January 6, 2022, for driving with a suspended license. While searching Coleman’s vehicle, police recovered the machine gun that appeared in one of his music videos new cases of COVID-19 among students and just two cases among staff – districtwide – were reported in the week prior to the data release. That is less than 1% of the district’s total population. The Mayor noted that he and other city and school officials “received many inquiries on Governor Baker’s recent announcement that the statewide mask mandate for schools would end on February 28… One of the questions has been what this means for the Malden Public Schools and the districtwide mask policy that was already in place prior to the state’s original order,” he stated. Mayor Christenson pointed to the fact that Malden Public Schools will be joining schools across the state in going on February School Vacation next week and that one of the reasons for the continued use of masks after the return from vacation February 27 was to “account for a potential spike [in COVID-19 cases] after February vacation, as we saw after the winter [school vacation week from December 23-January].” Mayor Christenson stated that instead of making a determination sooner than the prescribed date – a full week after the March 7 School Committee meeting – Malden’s move would be “to give an opportunity for our Health Department to make an official recommendation based on the current medical data... as well as hear from students, parents, and staff before making an informed decision.” To that end, the Malden Public Schools, at the direction of Superintendent Dr. Ligia Noriega-Murphy, is now reviewing the results of a districtwide, online survey it conducted this past week, soliciting responses from students, staff and students’ caregivers, regarding the lifting of the mask mandate. The Mayor noted that anyone who had any questions on the mask mandate could contact his office (781-397-7000) for answers. “We thank you for your patience and only ask that you try to be respectful of the many differing opinions,” the Mayor said in his statement last week. which was posted only a few days prior. Coleman pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and other controlled substances; one count of conspiring to possess, use and carry firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy; one count of possessing a machine gun and one count of possessing a machine gun in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Coleman is facing a mandatory term of 40 years in prison. He also faces $750,000 in fines. Sentencing is scheduled for June 8. Mackey & Brown Attorneys at Law * PERSONAL INJURY * REAL ESTATE * FAMILY LAW * GENERAL PRACTICE * PERSONAL BANKRUPTCY * CIVIL LITIGATION 14 Norwood St., Everett, MA 02149 Phone: (617) 387-4900 Fax: (617) 381-1755 WWW.MACKEYBROWNLAW.COM John Mackey, Esq. * Katherine M. Brown, Esq. Patricia Ridge, Esq. Happy Presidents’ Day In honor of Presidents’ Day, we are closed Monday, February 21st. As always, you can access our ATMs and your Online & Mobile Banking anytime. Enroll at www.EverettBank.com 419 BROADWAY. EVERETT, MA 02149 771 SALEM ST. LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 WWW.EVERETTBANK.COM 617-387-1110 781-776-4444 Member FDIC | Member DIF

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