Gang Member Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun and Drug Charges

BOSTON - A Vice Lord gang member from Athol, Mass. has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to gun and drug charges. At the time of the offenses the defendant was on parole following multiple six- to 10-year concurrent state prison sentences.

Keith Harlow, a/k/a "Lord Savage," 40, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances; being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery; and engaging in the business of manufacturing and dealing in firearms without a license. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12, 2027. Harlow was charged in May 2025, however he remained a fugitive until his arrest in August 2025.

Harlow is a member of a Vice Lords chapter known as the Four Corner Hustlers. Known by his street name "Lord Savage," Harlow has been convicted of multiple prior armed robberies and, at the time of the offenses, was on parole following multiple six to 10-year concurrent state prison sentences.

In 2025, while on state parole, Harlow sent numerous text messages and was captured in photographs and video recordings in possession of firearms, a suppressor and machinegun conversion device, commonly known as a selector "switch." In numerous text messages, Harlow discussed the manufacturing of firearms and selector switches and the sale of numerous firearms he had in his possession. One of the firearms seized during the investigation was purchased by co-conspirator Andrew Poor and given to Harlow. Further investigation of Poor revealed his involvement in a January 2025 home invasion of a residence in Athol. Dante Machuca was also identified as participating in the home invasion, along with Harlow and Poor.

According to the charging documents, Harlow, Poor and Machuca, entered into the residence of a suspected drug dealer armed with firearms in order to rob the dealer of drugs and proceeds. Harlow engaged in a struggle with the dealer and fired his weapon to demonstrate its authenticity, before putting the hot barrel of the firearm against the victim's abdomen. At the time of this home invasion, Harlow was on parole for multiple state prison terms.

During a search of Harlow's residence on May 29, 2025, multiple firearm receivers, suspected firearm suppressors, machinegun conversion devices, 3D printers and firearm manufacturing supplies were recovered. Approximately 100 grams of suspected cocaine was also found in the residence.

A review of Perry's cellphone seized during his arrest on state charges on May 29, 2025, revealed that Harlow and Perry worked together to distribute controlled substances and sell firearms throughout Massachusetts. In text message communications, Harlow and Perry discussed committing multiple robberies and using firearms to shoot at various individuals.

At the time of the offenses, Harlow and Perry were prohibited from possessing firearms due to numerous prior felony convictions, including Perry's youthful offender conviction of manslaughter. At the time of all the messages, Harlow was on parole following multiple concurrent state prison sentences for multiple armed robberies and Perry was on probation for a domestic violence offense.

Perry was sentenced in September 2026 to 97 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiring to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of unlicensed manufacturing and dealing in firearms provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; David E. Sullivan, Northwestern District Attorney; and Athol Police Chief Craig Lundgren made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Marshal Service in Massachusetts; the U.S. Marshal's Service in the Northern District of Georgia; United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia; the Massachusetts State Police; the Franklin County House of Correction; and the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.