GREENFIELD — Two men connected to the Greenfield barbershop that served as part of a cocaine trafficking syndicate are each expected to serve three to five years in prison after pleading guilty to drug charges this week.

Nathan M. Ortiz, 40, and David B. Caplice, 40, each appeared in Franklin County Superior Court on Tuesday afternoon to change their pleas pertaining to single counts of trafficking in cocaine, 18 to 36 grams, and conspiracy to violate drug law. Following plea agreements, each charge carries identical penalties that will be served simultaneously. Ortiz also pleaded guilty to another charge of trafficking in cocaine, 18 to 36 grams, that was indicted in Hampshire County and transferred to Greenfield. Both men are set to be sentenced on Monday.

Brothers Daniel G. Rice, of Hatfield, and Brandon M. Rice, of West Springfield, were the leaders of a cocaine trafficking ring operating out of the barbershop that the former owned and operated. According to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Ortiz and Caplice were arrested when police broke up the operation in December 2021 after a seven-month investigation involving at least a dozen law enforcement agencies. The barbershop business no longer exists.

The Rice brothers, their mother, Raeline Phelps, and Nicole Perkins pleaded guilty last month to various charges for their involvement. The brothers were sentenced to five to eight years in prison, with 110 days of credit for time served after they were arrested and before they posted bail, and those sentences will begin June 20. Phelps will be on administrative probation for two years and Perkins got a year of administrative probation.

Ortiz was represented by defense attorney Rachel Lynn Weber. Caplice was represented by Stephen E. Shea.

Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber is prosecuting these cases for the state.

Other defendants

Last month, the prosecution dropped charges that Cheri Gallegos and Nicole Barnes faced for their alleged involvement in the trafficking operation.

Jason Nadeau has also been charged with trafficking in cocaine, 200 grams or more, and conspiracy to violate drug laws. His bail was $300,000 cash or $500,000 surety. Facing the same two charges are Rebekah Thompson and Heather L. Symanski. Thompson was released on personal recognizance while Symanski was held on $3,000 bail.

Jaimilee Bontempi, Jason Byrd, David Gallegos, Damien Johnson, Damek Ryan, Robert Blake and Britney Porcino face charges of conspiracy to violate drug laws. All were released on personal recognizance except Byrd, who is out on $10,000 bail, and Blake, who was held on $3,000 bail.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.

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