Retired Holyoke firefighter linked to unlawful gaming, drug ring

HOLYOKE — An ongoing case centered on alleged unlawful gaming and illicit drug gross sales has snared a retired firefighter now charged with cocaine trafficking and different offenses.

David McKenna, a member of the fireplace division for 28 years till his retirement in 2020, is one in every of three defendants charged in Hampden Superior Court. The others are Griffin’s Cafe proprietor Sean Rohan, charged first within the group, and alleged cocaine provider Jose Perez-Deleon, of Chicopee.

A press release of details filed by the state Attorney General’s Office says Rohan was the top of an offshore sports activities betting ring with McKenna as his “agent.”

McKenna, in flip, offered cocaine greater than 20 instances to an undercover state trooper, whereas additionally arranging sports activities bets, in accordance with the assertion.

“As time went on, David McKenna indicated to the undercover trooper that he could obtain any amount of cocaine that the undercover desired — all he would have to do is make a call,“ the statement reads.

“Accordingly, the undercover began ordering larger amounts of cocaine, except instead of vials, the undercover would order ‘balls,’ which were 3.5 gram portions of cocaine,” it continues.

The alleged gross sales and guess occurred between 2023 and 2025, in accordance with the AG’s workplace. The probe was headed by its Gaming Enforcement Division, data present, established in 2011 and bolstered after the arrival of the legalization of casinos in Massachusetts.

The betting ring was run primarily out of Griffin’s, a preferred Holyoke watering gap, in accordance with investigators. The drug gross sales turned an offshoot of that, the assertion of details suggests.

Undercover officers made 500 unlawful bets through the years, the assertion provides. Investigators usually “settled up” the transactions in particular person with McKenna, generally foregoing better money payouts for medication as a substitute, in accordance with the assertion.

The investigation included wiretaps, pole digital camera surveillance and different covert policing strategies.

Contacted by The Republican after a court docket listening to on Thursday, a lawyer for McKenna contended the investigation was overblown.

“It is one thing for the Attorney General’s Office and their handler, the casinos, to make these allegations. Let’s see what a jury of my client’s peers here in Hampden Court have to say about this excessive prosecution,” Holyoke protection legal professional A.J. O’Donald III mentioned.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office couldn’t instantly be reached on Friday.

Rohan was in May 2025 arrested and charged with unlawful gaming, managing a betting enterprise and possession of fentanyl.

McKenna was later indicted by a statewide grand jury in Worcester for conspiracy to register bets; conspiracy to violate drug legal guidelines; committing an enterprise crime; cash laundering; distribution of cocaine; registering bets; trafficking cocaine within the quantity of 18-36 grams; and trafficking cocaine as much as 100 grams.

He and his codefendants pleaded not responsible at their respective arraignments.

Perez-Deleon was charged with conspiracy and cocaine trafficking.

A pretrial convention within the case is about for June 3.