4 charged in widespread fentanyl trafficking conspiracy
Local
Prosecutors say the suspects used post offices and FedEx facilities in the Boston area to send more than 150 packages of the potentially deadly synthetic opioid.
Four Boston-area residents were indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on Thursday for their alleged roles in a massive fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
According to U.S. Attorney’s Office Rachael S. Rollins, Angel Morales, 51, of Roslindale, Quenty Ogando, 44, of Dorchester, Erika Prado, 31, of Hyde Park and Rahelin Reynoso, 33, of Dorchester, were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Morales was also charged with one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. According to the Centers for Disease Control, fentanyl can be deadly in small doses and causes more than 150 deaths daily in the United States.
According to the indictment, in September and November, the four suspects conspired to distribute and possess with intent to distribute the drugs. Prosecutors say Morales allegedly used various post offices and FedEx facilities in Boston, Randolph, Holbrook, Quincy, Mattapan, Braintree, Milton and elsewhere to send more than 150 packages containing suspected fentanyl.
Prosecutors say that on September 23, Morales allegedly sent more than 850 grams of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl from a Randolph FedEx. On November 22, during a search of a Mattapan apartment and a suspected hiding place, investigators recovered a plethora of drugs containing fentanyl, officials said.
These included more than 22 kilograms of pills and more than 22 kilograms of loose powder, officials said. Investigators say they also found three industrial-grade pill presses and numerous sealed envelopes containing various amounts of pills.
Rollins’ office said the charges carry a sentence of 10 years to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million.
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