An aide to Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey was arrested and faces cocaine trafficking charges after authorities seized eight kilograms of the drug allegedly intended for delivery to him at a state office building. LaMar Cook, 45, deputy director of Healey’s Western Massachusetts office, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. A judge ordered Cook to be held without bail during a court appearance.

In addition to trafficking, he faces charges of carrying a gun and ammunition without a license, and driving without a license, according to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office. The investigation stems from two prior seizures by law enforcement earlier this month. On October 10, 2025, investigators intercepted and searched two suspicious packages at Hotel UMass in Amherst, which contained approximately 13 kilograms of suspected cocaine. Evidence collected during that operation was consistent with narcotics recovered during a recent controlled delivery in Springfield, authorities said.

The total drug seizure amounted to about 21 kilos. Massachusetts State Police in Springfield intercepted the package containing cocaine, and a trooper posed as a delivery worker to hand it over to Cook, who was at the building waiting for it. A spokesperson for Healey confirmed Cook was fired “effective immediately.” The governor’s office called his conduct “unacceptable” and a “major breach of the public trust,” stating the administration would assist law enforcement.

Law enforcement officials intercepted the packages at Hotel UMass in Amherst, where Cook previously worked, according to his LinkedIn profile. The investigation into the UMass seizure remains ongoing, with potential additional charges related to prior shipments in Hampshire County. As deputy director, Cook claimed on his LinkedIn profile to have served as a “key liaison between the state government and the western region of Massachusetts,” managing government initiatives across four counties.

Healey praised Cook’s appointment in April 2023, calling him a “proven leader with ties to Western Mass.” However, two Republicans vying for their party’s nomination to challenge Healey in next year’s gubernatorial election criticized the governor following the arrest.