Federal prosecutors have charged Javan Tooley, the CEO and founder of the Dorchester-based nonprofit Adapt & Evolve, with distributing cocaine near his office. Tooley, 36, faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and up to $8 million in fines due to his prior conviction for cocaine distribution in 2010. He allegedly distributed 100 grams of crack cocaine in Dorchester, with a child present in his vehicle, and was found in possession of 160 grams of crack upon his arrest. Tooley pleaded not guilty in federal court.
The charges include allegations that he used violence against his victims, gave them drugs, and coordinated drug transactions using the nonprofit’s phone. Additionally, prosecutors claim he targeted and recruited women with substance abuse disorders to engage in paid sex for financial gain. Tooley was previously convicted in Boston in 2010 for distributing cocaine and served five years in prison, after which he violated his supervised release multiple times, leading to an additional two-year sentence.
According to the Justice Department, Tooley allegedly contacted a cooperating witness again, stating that he had additional crack cocaine to sell, and arranged to meet again on Sept. 23, 2025, at an area near the Roxbury District Court. He was taken into custody upon his arrival and was found in possession of approximately 160 grams of crack cocaine. Prosecutors also allege that Tooley claimed to have connections to law enforcement and other powerful officials through his nonprofit, further complicating the case.