Jorge Monteiro, Fentanyl Distribution, Massachusetts 2018

BROCKTON, MA – Jorge Monteiro, 24, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced to 51 months for distributing fentanyl, a synthetic opioid fueling the nation’s overdose crisis. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns handed down the sentence on Thursday, alongside a three-year term of supervised release.

Monteiro, also known as “Jay,” admitted to distributing 57 grams of the deadly substance in June 2018. The bust didn’t stop there. When law enforcement moved in on August 23, 2018, they recovered a Glock 9mm pistol and two industrial-grade metal presses – the kind used to compact heroin and fentanyl into easily distributable “fingers,” typically weighing around 10 grams each. The recovery suggests a significant, ongoing operation.

Federal investigators believe Monteiro wasn’t acting alone. Court documents reveal he’s allegedly linked to the Perkins Avenue gang in Brockton, a notorious crew with a history of violence and drug activity. This connection paints a picture of a larger network pushing poison into the streets. The case was built as part of “Operation Landshark,” a wide-ranging federal investigation targeting repeat offenders and “impact players” in Brockton and Boston.

Operation Landshark specifically focuses on individuals with prior convictions for violent crimes, firearm offenses, and drug trafficking – those identified as being among the top 30 most dangerous criminals responsible for violence and gunplay in Brockton. This isn’t just about taking down one dealer; it’s about dismantling a core group of offenders who have repeatedly plagued the community.

The collaborative effort behind Operation Landshark included the FBI’s North Shore and Southeastern Massachusetts Gang Task Forces, along with a slew of other agencies: the Massachusetts State Police, Plymouth and Suffolk County District Attorneys, Boston and Brockton Police Departments, and even the U.S. Secret Service. Support also came from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, ATF, and multiple county sheriff’s offices and correctional facilities.

The investigation is a component of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice program aimed at reducing violent crime through coordinated law enforcement and community engagement. U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling emphasized the program’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals and fostering partnerships at all levels of law enforcement. The goal? To make neighborhoods safer, one bust – and one sentence – at a time.

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