Peabody Man Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison for Extortion

BOSTON - A Gangster Disciple gang member from Peabody, Mass. was sentenced in federal court in Boston for making threats of physical violence to extort money from two victims.

Damien Willette, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 51 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. In September 2025, Willette pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make interstate communications with the intent to extort and making interstate communications with intent to extort. Willette was indicted in March 2025 along with co-conspirators William Walley and Michael O'Shea.

Willette, who was incarcerated with his alleged co-conspirators, threatened two individuals - a former Gangster Disciple who was recruited into the gang by Willette (Victim 2) and their romantic partner (Victim 1) - while serving state prison sentences.

Willette expected Victim 2 to provide him with financial assistance during his incarceration from November 2020 to May 2024, as well as to his fellow incarcerated gang members. Gangster Disciple gang members refer to this practice as "aid and assistance." Willette told Victim 2 that he would be "blessed out" of the gang if he continued to provide "aid and assistance." However, Victim 2 attempted to disassociate from the Gangster Disciples gang soon after his recruitment. When Victim 2 stopped providing assistance, Victim 1 continued on his behalf.

On or about March 2023, Willette and his alleged co-conspirators started threatening the victims with physical violence if they stopped providing money to them while they were incarcerated. For example, Willette warned the victims that if they failed to provide "aid and assistance," Victim 2 would not be "blessed out" when Willette was released from state prison. Willette specified that he would have gang members pistol whip the victims that "it's going to be bad for you and everyone you know" if they failed to provide "aid and assistance."

Michael O'Shea was sentenced in January 2026 to 51 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.