Pittsfield school dean accused of running drug ring

A Pittsfield High school leader is accused of running a cocaine ring and trafficking large quantities of the drug around Western Massachusetts, federal prosecutors said.

Lavante Wiggins, dean of students at Pittsfield High School, and another Pittsfield man are facing federal charges related to cocaine trafficking, according to U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua Levy.

Wiggins, 30, and his associate, Theodore “Monty” Warren, 42, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, federal prosecutors said. Both were arrested on Wednesday morning.

Pittsfield Public Schools did not respond to a request for comment, and an email to Wiggins’ school email was not returned. PPS Superintendent Joseph Curtis said The Berkshire Eagle that Wiggins was immediately placed on administrative leave.

“We have been notified by the US Attorney’s Office of the arrest of Pittsfield High School Dean of Students Lavante Wiggins,” Curtis wrote, telling the Pittsfield Public Schools community, Vulture reported. “In response to this matter, Mr. Wiggins has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately.”

Pittsfield men allegedly trafficked large amounts of cocaine into Western Mass.

Warren allegedly served as a drug dealer for Wiggins, according to Levy’s office. In August, Wiggins began sending Warren to sell drugs and deliver cocaine because he was under investigation, prosecutors allege.

One of Wiggins’ clients also had more than $34,000 in cocaine debt, which the pair cashed in while continuing to supply large quantities of the drug, according to prosecutors. Wiggins allegedly directly asked Warren to bring that customer 91 grams of cocaine in September, 100 grams in October, 125 grams in November and 150 grams on Tuesday.

A gram of cocaine was about $184 at street prices in the United States in 2021, according to DATA from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

The charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.

Both appeared before a federal judge in Springfield and were released after an initial court appearance, Levy’s office said in a statement.

Molly Farrar is a feature reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime and more.