A top aide to Democratic Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey has been arrested on drug trafficking charges after police intercepted eight kilograms of cocaine sent to a state office building in Springfield.
According to Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, 45-year-old LaMar Cook, the deputy director of Healey’s Western Massachusetts office, was arrested Tuesday at a traffic stop following a controlled delivery operation over the weekend.
Highlights
- LaMar Cook, a top aide to Governor Maura Healey, was arrested for allegedly trafficking eight kilograms of cocaine sent to a state office building.
- Cook faces multiple charges, including cocaine trafficking and unlawful firearm possession, and was immediately terminated from his position.
- Authorities linked cocaine recovered previously at Hotel UMass, where Cook once worked, to the recent Springfield delivery.
Investigators said the operation involved a package containing eight kilograms of suspected cocaine sent to the Springfield State Office Building at 436 Dwight Street.
Officers arrested a top aide to the Massachusetts governor on drug trafficking charges
Image credits: Lamar Cook/LinkedIn
Cook faces multiple charges, including trafficking in cocaine over 200 grams, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition.
He was arraigned on Wednesday in Springfield District Court and pleaded not guilty. A judge set his bail at $25,000.
“The governor’s office has been made aware of the arrest of an employee, Lamar Cook. The conduct that occurred here is unacceptable and represents a major breach of the public trust,” a spokesperson for Healey said in a statement to Boston 25 News.
“Mr. Cook has been terminated from his position effective immediately. This criminal investigation is ongoing, and our administration will work with law enforcement to assist them in their work.”
Earlier this month, investigators recovered about 13 kilograms of the drug from packages at Hotel UMass in Amherst, where Cook had previously worked as director before joining the Healey administration in 2023.
Image credits: Massachusetts Governor's Office
According to Cook’s LinkedIn profile, he was the director of the Hotel UMass, where he oversaw “the day-to-day operations.”
At the governor's office, Cook was in charge of managing and coordinating “government initiatives and policies in 4 counties.”
“Evidence collected during that operation was consistent with the narcotics recovered during the most recent controlled delivery in Springfield,” Gulluni said in a statement Wednesday.
Cook’s attorney, Kedar Ismail, told reporters that his client maintains his innocence and looks forward to clearing his name, according to MassLive.
Cook co-founded the Back to School Brighter Initiative and had previously run for the Springfield City Council and school board.
Cook was fired by Healey over the allegations
Image credits: Marla Aufmuth/Getty Images
He earned an annual salary of about $115,668, according to state records.
The arrest has quickly drawn political backlash for Governor Healey, with Republican challengers in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial race criticizing her administration’s oversight.
Former state official Mike Kennealy wrote on X: “Healey has lost control of every aspect of her administration. When I’m Governor, we’ll clean up the mess that Maura Healey created.”
Another GOP candidate, Brian Shortsleeve, called the situation “beyond shocking,” saying: “This is a reflection not just on our governor and her failed leadership and management skills, but on our entire state, and we shouldn’t tolerate it. Gov. Healey owes Massachusetts an explanation.”
The Hampden District Attorney’s Office said the investigation remains ongoing and active.