Man sentenced for manufacturing fentanyl pills sold in Massachusetts
Dec 17, 2024
BOSTON (WWLP) - The leader of a drug trafficking organization from Rhode Island was sentenced to prison for manufacturing large quantities of fentanyl pills that were sold across the country including in Massachusetts.
In a news release from the Department of Justice in Boston, an investigation began in September 2019 into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) based in Providence, Rhode Island led by Jasdrual Perez. It was alleged that Perez manufactured large quantities of fentanyl pills designed to appear like pharmaceutical-grade oxycodone/Percocet pills and distribute them and other controlled substances throughout the United States.
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A member of the organization, 36-year-old Erik Ventura, maintained one of the drug stash locations. He would transport cash and drugs to and from New York and distribute thousands of fentanyl pills to customers of the organization in Massachusetts. It was also discovered that Ventura distributed fentanyl and cocaine to his customers, including one who survived an overdose at a stash house where Ventura lived.
Ventura and Perez were arrested and charged in February 2022 for their involvement in the manufacturing and distribution of fentanyl pills that spanned across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Texas, and North and South Carolina.
In February 2022, investigators seized two industrial-grade pill presses, approximately 20 kilograms of powdered fentanyl, pressed fentanyl pills, and other items, including kilograms of pill binder used in the large-scale manufacturing of clandestinely pressed fentanyl pills.
(Department of Justice)(Department of Justice)(Department of Justice)(Department of Justice)
Perez pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a fine of $1 million and forfeit his rights to the residence from which Perez distributed fentanyl.
Ventura pleaded guilty to a superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
“Fentanyl kills over 2,000 people a year in Massachusetts. That is unacceptable. Jasdrual Perez was running a business that pumped over 200 kilograms of this deadly poison onto the streets of Massachusetts and neighboring states, wreaking havoc and destroying lives. This was not some low-level street dealer. This is a man who bought industrial pill presses to churn out millions of pills containing highly addictive and dangerous fentanyl.” said United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “This office and our federal partners will stay relentless in holding accountable the people contributing to this deadly crisis. We commend the tireless work of our law enforcement partners who continue, day in and day out, to root out, dismantle, and punish these organizations and the people who sit atop them.”
“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison, especially in the form of pills designed to look like real prescription medication, in order to profit and destroy lives,” said Acting DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division. “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in Massachusetts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“The sentence of Jasdrual Perez sends a strong message to all those who seek to endanger the welfare and wellbeing of our communities in order to enrich themselves,” said Jonathan Wlodyka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office. “Perez led a syndicate whose sole intent was flooding our streets with large quantities of deadly drugs. By concealing fentanyl as pharmaceutical grade prescription drugs, Perez further endangered his clients' lives by selling them a product that is much more potent and deadly.”
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