Boston, Jan. 2, 2015— An Allston man today pleaded guilty to causing a motor vehicle crash that claimed the lives of 27-year-old Jessica Campbell and 28-year-old John Lanzillotti, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

MOHAMED ALFAGEEH (D.O.B. 8/15/84) pleaded guilty to two counts of motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation during an appearance in Suffolk Superior Court this morning.  Assistant District Attorney Gregory Henning had recommended that Alfageeh be sentenced to three years in the house of correction.  Judge Carol Ball sentenced Alfageeh to one year in the house of correction followed by an additional two years in the house of correction with six months to serve and the remainder suspended for a probationary period of three years.  Alfageeh will serve a total of 18 months in the house of correction and would face an additional 18 months of incarceration if he violates the conditions of his probation.  A charge of negligent operation of a motor vehicle was dismissed as duplicative.

Had the case proceeded to trial, Henning would have presented evidence and testimony to prove that shortly after 9:00 p.m. on June 21, Alfageeh was driving a gray 2005 Ford Explorer westbound on Beacon Street when he approached the intersection of Beacon and Fairfield streets approximately seven to eight seconds after the traffic signal turned red.  Alfageeh traveled through the red light without slowing down and struck a silver Volkswagen Passat that had entered the intersection from Fairfield Street.   The Explorer spun and skidded, striking Campbell and Lanzillotti as they walked in a crosswalk at the intersection.  The vehicle came to a rest on its roof after hitting two parked cars.

Campbell and Lanzillotti both succumbed to their injuries.

“This was a tragic crash that took two innocent lives and forever changed the lives of their loved ones.  It is all the more tragic knowing that their deaths were entirely preventable,” Conley said.

Katherine Moran was the DA’s assigned victim-witness advocate.  Alfageeh was represented by John Seed.

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All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.