Adapt & Evolve LLC is a legal-services firm that says it “transform[s] lives by navigating and overcoming systemic barriers.” It claims to be staffed by “dedicated professionals with extensive legal and advocacy expertise” and sells video consultations for legal assistance. ^{1  2  3}

It was founded and led by CEO Javan Tooley, a Massachusetts resident who was convicted in 2010 for distribution of crack cocaine and sentenced to prison for five years. In September 2025, Tooley was taken into police custody after allegedly distributing 100 grams of crack cocaine and being indicted by a federal grand jury. He also has a track record of sex trafficking, according to court filings. ^{4  5 6  7}

Background

Adapt & Evolve is a legal-services firm based in Dorchester, Massachusetts, ^{8  9} that was founded by Javan Tooley, a Massachusetts resident who was convicted in 2010 for the distribution of crack cocaine and sentenced to prison for five years.  ^{4  5  6} Tooley later created a nonprofit organization called Whole Step Rehabilitation to assist recently incarcerated people in shelters and help them reintegrate into society. ^{10  11}

Activities

Adapt & Evolve LLC is a legal-services firm that that says it “transform[s] lives by navigating and overcoming systemic barriers.” The group claims to be staffed by “dedicated professionals with extensive legal and advocacy expertise” and sells video consultations. It advertises a free consultation, “personalized” consultations for $300, “assistance in legal procedures” for $800, “CORI [Criminal Offender Record Information] expungement advocacy” for $1,000, and “sealing of CORI Records” for $1,200. The website also advertises “public speaking services,” with the subtitle “amplifying voices for change,” for $2,000 per one-hour event. ^{1  2  3}

Controversies

In September 2025, Adapt & Evolve founder and CEO Javan Tooley was arrested and charged for allegedly distributing cocaine base (crack cocaine). Law enforcement alleged that on September 10, Tooley distributed 100 grams of crack cocaine near Fields Corner in Dorchester, Massachusetts, close to the Adapt & Evolve office. Tooley was alleged to have sold the drugs in a vehicle while a child, approximately six to seven years of age, was sitting in the back seat. Following the deal, Tooley allegedly spoke to a witness, telling the witness that he had more crack cocaine to sell, and arranged a meeting for September 23, 2025, near Roxbury District Court. Tooley, 36, was indicted on September 18, 2025, by a federal grand jury for distribution of “28 grams or more of cocaine base.” When he arrived on the scene of the second deal on September 23, Tooley was arrested and taken into police custody. Prosecutors alleged that law enforcement found Tooley in possession of roughly 160 grams of crack cocaine. ^{7  12 13}

In 2010, Tooley was convicted in the U.S. District Court in Boston for distribution of cocaine after a hand-to-hand sale of crack cocaine to an undercover police officer. He was sentenced to five years in prison and five subsequent years of supervised release. After his release from federal prison, Tooley violated the terms of his supervision on at least five occasions, and he was sentenced to 22 additional months of incarceration. Due to his previous federal drug-trafficking conviction, Tooley faced a required minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison on his 2025 charges, with eight years of supervised release and a fine of $8 million. ^{7  12  13}

According to court filings, Tooley also allegedly targeted and recruited women to engage in prostitution for his financial benefit and to sell drugs on his behalf. Many of the women suffered from substance-abuse disorders, and Tooley provided them with drugs. Tooley was also accused of committing acts of violence against these victims and “created a climate of fear” around them by claiming to have connections to powerful officials through a group that Tooley allegedly identified as a “nonprofit,” according to the government’s motion for detention. Adapt & Evolve is not known to be a nonprofit, but Tooley is known to operate the nonprofit Whole Step Rehabilitation Inc., which the Boston Herald reported has the same phone number and email address as Adapt & Evolve LLC.  ^{7  12  13}

Funding

Adapt & Evolve received funding from the New Commonwealth Fund between fiscal years 2021 and 2024. ¹⁴

1. “About.” Adapt & Evolve. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.adaptandev.com/02-about.
2. Tooley, Javan. “Empowering Change: How CORI Expungement Opens Doors to New Opportunities.” Adapt & Evolve, May 16, 2024. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.adaptandev.com/post/coriexpungement.
3. “Services.” Adapt & Evolve. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.adaptandev.com/book-online.
4. Post – @ JohnFGately. X.com, September 24, 2025. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://x.com/johnfgately/status/1970966232607359097?s=20.
5. Post – East Boston Network. Facebook, September 28, 2025. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.facebook.com/groups/EastBostonNetwork/posts/3238610612973057/.
6. “About.” Whole Step Rehabilitation. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://wholesteprehab.org/about/. Archive: https://web.archive.org/web/20251125034838/https://wholesteprehab.org/about/.
7. “Press Release: Founder and CEO of Non-Profit for Re-Entry Support Services Indicted on Drug Distribution Charges.” United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, September 24, 2025. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.justice.gov/usao-ma/pr/founder-and-ceo-non-profit-re-entry-support-services-indicted-drug-distribution-charges.
8. “Contact.” Adapt & Evolve. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.adaptandev.com/05-contact.
9. “Business Entity Summary – Adapt And Evolve, LLC.” Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx?sysvalue=d1Wc.h82HJuoon57_ciykUtMeDD45Gw98QmkIGK6MmQ-.
10. “Whole Step Rehabilitation Inc.” ProPublica. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/863809184.
11. “About.” Whole Step Rehabilitation. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://wholesteprehab.org/about/.
12. Zokovitch, Grace. “Founder of re-entry support nonprofit indicted on drug distribution charges.” Boston Herald, September 24, 2025. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/09/24/founder-of-re-entry-support-nonprofit-indicted-on-drug-distribution-charges/.
13. Haynes, Veronica. “Boston nonprofit Adapt & Evolve leader faces federal drug trafficking charges.” WCVB 5ABC, September 24, 2025. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://www.wcvb.com/article/boston-non-profit-ceo-drug-charges/68044253.
14. “2020-2025 Impact Report.” New Commonwealth Fund. Accessed November 24, 2025. https://newcommonwealthfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NCF_2025_Impact_Report.pdf.