Antonio Denziah Fernandes, Firearm & Narcotics Trafficking, Massachusetts 2024

Brockton Man Sentenced to Over Six Years in Prison for Illegally Receiving a Firearm, Distributing Fentanyl and Possessing Cocaine

BOSTON – Antonio Denziah Fernandes, 23, was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston to 78 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release, for his role in illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment, distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

In September 2024, Fernandes pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment, two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine, and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

In late 2021, law enforcement learned that Fernandes was trafficking firearms and narcotics in the Brockton area, including large quantities of fentanyl. In January 2022, while under indictment in state court for trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, Fernandes received and sold a Glock Model 48, 9mm pistol for $1,700 in the Taunton area.

Fernandes and a co-conspirator were storing and packaging narcotics in an abandoned van parked outside Fernandes residence and distributing them with a different vehicle. Fernandes was arrested in the passenger seat of the latter vehicle, and a loaded firearm was found wedged against his seat. Fernandes had 2.8g of fentanyl and $1,215 in cash on his person.

During a search of the abandoned vehicle, large quantity of drugs was found inside including approximately 174.7 grams of Fentanyl, 51.5 grams of cocaine, 18.2 grams of Percocet pills and eight grams of mushrooms. Twenty-seven rounds of 9mm ammunition was also recovered. The van also contained various packaging materials for narcotics, such as plastic baggies, corner cut bags, a trash bag full of various used drug packaging materials with white residue, mixing bowls with white residue and latex gloves.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Meghan C. Cleary of the Criminal Division. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce gun violence and other violent crime, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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