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Gov. Healey staffer fired after arrest on cocaine trafficking charge
LaMar Cook pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Wednesday and was ordered held without bail.
A Springfield-based aide to Gov. Maura Healey is charged with cocaine trafficking after prosecutors say investigators intercepted eight kilograms slated for delivery to a state office building where the man worked.
LaMar Cook, 45, of Springfield, also faces charges of illegally owning a firearm and ammunition, the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office said. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment Wednesday in Springfield District Court and was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing Friday.
It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.
Cook served as deputy director of Healey’s Western Massachusetts office, according to his LinkedIn page and an archived staff directory. A spokesperson for the governor’s office said state officials fired Cook “effectively immediately” after learning of his arrest Tuesday.
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“The conduct that occurred here is unacceptable and represents a major breach of the public trust,” the spokesperson said, adding, “This criminal investigation is ongoing, and our administration will work with law enforcement to assist them in their work.”
The Hampden DA’s office said authorities seized multiple parcels containing a combined 21 kilograms of suspected cocaine, eight of which were intercepted Saturday during a controlled delivery operation at the Springfield State Office Building on Dwight Street. Investigators searched Cook’s former office Monday night, according to the DA.
Cook was arrested Tuesday evening while driving in Springfield, the office said. Prosecutors said the investigation stems from two prior drug seizures; authorities reportedly intercepted and searched two suspicious packages at Hotel UMass in Amherst Oct. 10 and found about 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine.
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“Evidence collected during that operation was consistent with the narcotics recovered during the most recent controlled delivery in Springfield,” the DA’s office said. “The investigation into the UMass seizure remains ongoing and may result in additional charges related to the prior shipments in Hampshire County.”
Cook previously worked as the director of Hotel UMass, per his LinkedIn.
The DA’s office said the narcotics investigation remains active and ongoing, helmed by Massachusetts State Police detectives, the State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team, Homeland Security Investigations, and other partner agencies.
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