CRANSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — A Cranston man admitted to a federal judge that he led a conspiracy that sold and delivered tens of thousands of fentanyl-laced fake Oxycodone pills, according to United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha. 35-year-old Jorge Pimentel pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a federal indictment, charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. According to officials, on multiple occasions between May to September of 2023, Pimentel brokered sales of fentanyl-laced pills and arranged for their delivery. In total, Pimentel was paid $37,000 in exchange for approximately 34,000 fentanyl-laced pills. The deliveries of pills were monitored by members of the FBI’s Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force. Pimentel was arrested on September 29, 2023. According to a release, a court-authorized search of a storage unit he rented in Pawtucket resulted in the seizure of approximately 8,968 grams of fentanyl in powder form; 3405.1 grams of fentanyl in pill form, 19,315 pills; and a high-speed pill press. The pills sold by Pimentel and others located inside the storage unit were counterfeit Oxycodone containing fentanyl and were marketed as such to resemble a legitimately manufactured drug. Pimentel will officially be sentenced on March 13 of next year. Categories: News