Ex-gov. aide held without right to bail after drug trafficking charges

SPRINGFIELD — LaMar Cook, fired from his state job after his arrest on drug and gun charges this week, was held without the right to bail after a hearing in Springfield District Court this morning.

Cook is accused of received shipped packages of cocaine from out of state on at least two occasions. The last alleged shipment came to the "little State House" on Dwight Street, where Gov. Maura Healey's regional office is located.

A state police trooper posing as a delivery worker made the delivery on Saturday, law enforcement officials have said.

Previous deliveries were allegedly shipped to Cook's former place of employment, the Hotel UMass in Amherst.

Cook was arrested Tuesday during a late evening traffic stop; he was in possession of an unregistered gun.

During a hearing before Judge Kevin Maltby, Assistant Hampden District Attorney Kerry Beattie argued there were no conditions to keep the community safe from Cook.

"Instead of uplifting the community, he decimated the community with this poison from him and his co-conspirators," Beattie said.

She estimated that the street value of the 8 kilogram package delivered to Springfield site at about $350,000.

Defense attorney Kedar Ismail said he intends to appeal Maltby's decision to Superior Court.

After the hearing, Ismail said his client never took physical possession of the packages but declined to comment further. In court, he pointed to the show of support in the community and the large group of supporters who came to the hearing.

"Look at this outpouring of love from the community for this gentleman," Ismail said, adding that he was dismayed over some racially charged comments on social media, including images of nooses and references to a "DEI hire."

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