North Shore internet personality Ernest Johnson, also known as “Yo Pesci,” was sentenced to seven and a half years by a U.S. District Court judge Monday morning for his illegal handling of firearms — another chapter closed in the fall of Vincent “Fatz” Caruso’s fentanyl empire.
“It felt like finally found my lane,” said Johnson of the viral videos that earned him some internet fame and eventually led to his arrest. “People always told me I was funny, I should be a comedian. I found something I was good at, but I took the wrong approach.”
Johnson — who the prosecution described as “something of the social media spokesman” for the drug ring — was arrested in June 2021 with ringleader Vincent “Fatz” Caruso, his mother Laurie Caruso and another co-conspirator and pleaded guilty to a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Judge Leo Sorokin sentenced Johnson to seven and half years in prison — less than the 10 years requested by the prosecution — plus three years supervised release and mandatory mental health treatment and drug and alcohol restrictions.
Vincent and Laurie Caruso were sentenced to over 20 years and nine years respectively in June 2022 on drug and firearm charges related to their multi-million dollar fentanyl empire, which distributed millions of laced pills to gangs on the North Shore and in Maine.
Attorneys for both sides acknowledged Johnson’s separation from the family’s drug business. Though he received $500 a week and shelter from the family for activities like minding the house and kids and driving, there is “not evidence he was a participating member in Caruso’s conspiracy,” defense attorney Kevin Barron said.
Johnson’s arrest stemmed from videos showing him with numerous firearms. Because of prior felony convictions — relating to a firearm offense, threats and misconduct during his incarceration — the social media content creator was not legally allowed to be in possession of guns.
The prosecution showed several of Johnson’s viral videos during the hearing — from exuberant cartwheeling and belting Jennifer Lopez’s “Waiting for Tonight” to tossing high-capacity firearms and talking about “war.”
“The videos are funny, except when they’re not,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip Mallard, arguing the content “glamorized” violence and undermined the perception of justice and accountability in the neighborhood.
The penalty for his offense was vastly increased by his criminal history and an “obliterated” serial number on one of the firearms — details the defense said were mitigated by circumstances including diagnosed PTSD and the fact that the scratched serial number was still legible.
During a personal statement to the court, Johnson said he was sorry to his family, especially his mother, for “embarrassing” them and for “wasting the court’s time with (his) immaturity.
The judge reduced Johnson’s sentence from the “high” guidelines — though still ruled above the defense’s requested five years — and encouraged Johnson to make “better choices.”
“You have some talent it appears,” Judge Leo Sorokin said. “You should focus on fostering that talent.”
