BOSTON (WPRI) -- Jasdrual "Josh" Perez, the nephew of Providence's police chief, has been sentenced to 22 ½ years in federal prison for running one of the largest fentanyl drug rings in the region. U.S. District Judge Leo Sorokin handed down the sentence Monday in Boston federal court, saying he'd never seen a case involving the sale of so many drugs over his three decades in the criminal justice system. Josh Perez pleaded guilty in July to running the large-scale fentanyl operation, which included using the illicit drug to make pills that he then sold across multiple states. "You put many people's lives in danger and the scale and scope of the number of pills you distributed is staggering," Sorokin told Perez. "This is a different category than most drug cases." Assistant U.S. Attorney Kunal Pasricha estimated Josh Perez sold millions of pills of fentanyl disguised as Oxycontin, which he manufactured at his "clandestine drug lab" on Imera Street in Providence. Those drugs, Paricha said, helped fuel the region's ongoing overdose epidemic that he said is ruining families and killing people at a higher rate than gun violence. "We could be here for the next month and we could not come up with the actual harm done by this defendant," Paricha said in court. "He's one of the most dangerous and culpable defendants you have ever sentenced." In court documents, prosecutor called Josh Perez "a drug kingpin" who "unleased untold amounts of destruction and likely death in the community." Josh Perez, who entered court in handcuffs and wearing a beige jump suit, is the nephew of Providence Police Col. Oscar Perez and Sgt. Andres Perez. More than a dozen people showed up to the sentencing hearing to show support for Josh Perez. Neither uncle was in the courtroom. Josh Perez addressed the court before being sentenced, saying he was deeply ashamed for his actions. He apologized, saying he would work to become a better person and looked forward to getting out of prison so he could spend time with his family, including his two daughters. "I apologize for all the ways I have disrespected and harmed people," Perez said. "I went against my morals and values." Jack Cicilline, a well-known Providence attorney who's representing Josh Perez, said he was disappointed in Sorokin's decision after having recommended Josh Perez serve six years in prison. He'd provided a long list of reasons why Sorokin should show leniency in his sentencing, pointing to Josh Perez's good behavior at the Wyatt Detention Facility where he'd taken several courses in drug rehabilitation, recidivism prevention and restorative justice. Cicilline said Josh Perez also helped repaint the prison and joined a religious studies program where he'd received praise from the prison pastor. "It's the first time he's thinking about other people, the damage he's done to his mother, his uncles and the people he sold pills to," Cicilline said. Outside the courthouse after the sentencing, Cicilline said he plans to appeal the decision. Despite Oscar and Andres Perez's high-ranking positions inside the department, Providence police never targeted Josh Perez or charged him with any crimes. He was arrested in 2021 after a Massachusetts-based federal task force investigated him and his operation for more than a year. As Target 12 first reported in 2023, the FBI launched an investigation into the Providence Police Department and Josh Perez's uncles after his arrest. Federal prosecutors first acknowledged the existence of the probe last week, and said Josh Perez and his operation likely benefited from the "knowing or unwitting" participation of Andres Perez. Oscar Perez was not implicated. DEA agents in 2021 recorded a phone call between Josh Perez and Andres Perez talking about police surveillance of another drug dealer, who was a rival of Josh Perez at the time. Josh Perez called his uncle using the WhatsApp, an encrypted talk and messaging app. Despite highlighting Andres Perez's involvement, prosecutors decided against filing criminal charges against the uncle, and Cicilline, said the uncles' reputations were "besmirched." He blamed federal prosecutors for leaving the impression publicly that the uncles engaged in corruption, and he called on Sorokin to punish the government for their actions by giving Josh Perez a lesser sentence. "There was no evidence to cause the stir they caused," Cicilline said, adding later that he thought the governor's decision to include the details about the uncles was "disgusting." Cicilline argued the recorded conversation didn't hurt Andres Perez's character, and "his failure to say any more than he did shows beyond question his commitment to the job he holds and supports his good character." Sorokin said he wouldn't take the issue with uncles under consideration, saying it was irrelevant to his sentencing decision for Josh Perez, who faced a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. "Life imprisonment is too long here," Sorokin said. "But Congress created long prison sentences for drug cases like this." Josh Perez will be on probation for five years when he gets out of prison, and Sorokin ordered him to pay a $1 million fine. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has stood by the Perez brothers, saying through a spokesperson last week no discipline was warranted within the department. Eli Sherman ([email protected]) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook. Tim White ([email protected]) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook.