BOSTON – In a relentless battle against the opioid crisis, a Lawrence man has been handed a tough sentence for selling deadly fentanyl. John Mena, 25, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to 10 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release following his guilty plea on December 2019.
\\
Mena’s crime: he sold approximately 13 grams of the potent opioid in a transaction that saw an undercover agent catch him red-handed. The transaction took place in Lawrence, where Mena was subsequently arrested on July 16, 2019.
\\
The operation that led to Mena’s downfall was part of a massive 10-week enforcement effort known as “Devil’s Highway,” aimed at tackling the distribution of opioids such as fentanyl and heroin across the Merrimack Valley. The initiative resulted in a total of 40 individuals facing federal charges, with an additional dozen or so charged on the state level.
\\
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Division; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; and Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque announced the sentencing today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexandra Brazier prosecuted Mena’s case.
\\
Mena’s sentence is a stark reminder of the devastating effects of fentanyl on communities across America, as law enforcement continues its war against drug trafficking and addiction.
\\
This grim tale of drugs and justice serves as a testament to the tireless efforts of federal, state, and local agencies in their fight to keep dangerous substances off the streets.
RELATED: Meth Kingpin Hunt Gets 45 Months in Alabama Slammer
RELATED: Meth Kingpin Burgess Green Gets 9 Years
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More