UPDATE: Former Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s aide, LaMar Cook, was arrested on drug trafficking charges after state police surveillance linked him to cocaine deliveries. Cook, 45, was apprehended during a traffic stop on October 24, 2025, and has been denied bail following a dangerousness hearing.
Authorities allege Cook was involved in a scheme to retrieve packages containing 31 kilos of cocaine from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he previously worked. Investigators began tracking these packages after postal workers in Kentucky flagged them as suspicious. The packages, bearing the name “Morgan Gordon,” were eventually redirected to the UMass hotel.
According to court documents, the cocaine was marked with the brand name “Gold,” which indicates ties to drug cartels that often brand their products. Trooper Joshua E. Kopeski outlined this in an affidavit requesting search warrants for Cook’s cell phones.
Cook’s arrest was coordinated after Kentucky police alerted Massachusetts authorities. Surveillance footage captured him making multiple trips to the UMass hotel to pick up the packages. On October 24, Cook notified security at his office on 436 Dwight St., Springfield, that he was expecting a delivery. However, instead of a UPS driver, he encountered undercover state troopers.
When confronted, Cook initially denied making the call to security, despite written confirmation from security staff. He later claimed he was picking the package up for someone else and did not know its contents.
Police seized Cook’s cell phones without his consent after he refused to allow a search. A search warrant was later obtained, but it remains unclear if the phones have been analyzed.
In addition to drug charges, Cook faces counts for unlawful possession of a firearm discovered at his home on Lamont Street, where a gun was found under his clothes. He is not licensed to possess a firearm. Cook’s attorney, Kedar K. Ismail, maintains his client’s innocence and plans to appeal.
During Friday’s bail hearing, Ismail argued Cook has strong community ties, while Assistant Hampden District Attorney Kerry Beattie pointed out Cook’s international travel history, citing a recent trip to Mexico as a potential flight risk.
Cook’s next court appearance is scheduled for December 1, 2025. This developing story underscores significant concerns about drug trafficking and public safety as officials continue their investigations.
Stay tuned for further updates as this case unfolds.
