Boston cop faces trial over secret nightclub after judge rejects plea deal

A Suffolk County judge refused to accept a plea deal from Boston Police Officer Richard McDermott, accused of running an illegal underground club where a 2021 shooting occurred.

Judge rejects plea deal for Boston officer who ran underground nightclub in Jamaica Plain

A Suffolk County judge on Wednesday refused to accept a guilty plea from Boston Police Officer Richard McDermott, who had been expected to plead guilty to charges connected to running an unlicensed underground nightclub in Jamaica Plain where a shooting injured a bouncer in 2021, masslive.com reports.

Judge Joshua Wall declined the deal because prosecutors and the defence remained too far apart on sentencing recommendations. Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden's office sought three to five years in prison, while McDermott's attorney, John Seed, requested probation. Wall advised both sides to either submit a joint sentencing recommendation or prepare for trial.

McDermott is due back in court Monday for a status conference. A trial is currently scheduled for 28 September, though court records suggest both sides are likely to seek a postponement.

An illegal club hidden beneath a commercial space

The unlicensed club operated secretly for months in a basement beneath a commercial property at 360B Centre Street. According to Suffolk County prosecutors, it offered music, bottle service, hookah and other nightlife features, with some guests paying over $100 for full bottles of liquor. McDermott's financial records showed bulk purchases at nearby package stores.

McDermott and co-defendant Luigi D'Addieco — a Boston Public Health Commission campus police officer — had originally rented the basement space to run a heating, ventilation and air conditioning company. During the COVID-19 pandemic, prosecutors said, they converted it into an operational club complete with cover charges, DJs and social media promotion.

Prosecutors filed charges against the pair in October 2024. D'Addieco has denied any wrongdoing and is next scheduled to appear in court on 21 September. Prosecutors did not indicate whether he had also intended to change his plea.

Shooting at the club's entrance exposed the operation

Detectives began investigating the nightclub after a shooting at its entrance on 10 July 2021. Evan Velez, of Dorchester, is accused of firing shots through the building's front door following a confrontation with the club's promoter and a fight with a bouncer. The gunshots struck another bouncer, who was transported to Boston Medical Center and survived.

Officers responding to the scene found bullet holes in the glass door, blood and shell casings on the ground. Uncertain whether an armed individual remained inside, police called in a tactical unit to force entry.

Among the last people to leave the building was McDermott, whom responding officers recognised as a fellow Boston police officer. He told them he had attended his brother-in-law's party and "had no idea what was going on," according to a prosecutorial summary of the charges.

Prosecutors disputed that account directly. "Contrary to that misleading statement, video surveillance captured McDermott looking out of the front door of the club, having had to step over the blood and broken glass before Boston Police responded," the summary states.

In subsequent interviews with detectives, both McDermott and D'Addieco provided misleading answers about their involvement with the club, prosecutors said. D'Addieco arrived at the scene after the shooting and parked across the street. He and McDermott spoke by phone multiple times that night, according to prosecutors.

Charges and professional consequences

McDermott faces a felony count of witness intimidation, along with two misdemeanour charges: maintaining a gambling nuisance and searching for criminal record information under false pretences.

D'Addieco faces a felony count of withholding evidence from a criminal proceeding and a misdemeanour count of maintaining a gambling nuisance.

A Boston Police Department spokesperson confirmed Wednesday that McDermott is currently suspended without pay. The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission — the state's law enforcement oversight body — suspended the certifications of both officers following their indictment in October 2024. Under state law, the commission is required to revoke the certifications of any officer convicted of a felony, which would permanently bar them from law enforcement work in Massachusetts.

Seed was not immediately available for comment following Wednesday's hearing.

Source: Google News JM — Crime