Antonio Denziah Fernandes, Illegally Receiving Firearms, Massachusetts 2022

A Brockton man has pleaded guilty to a string of federal charges, including illegally receiving firearms and distributing large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine.

Antonio Denziah Fernandes, 23, 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.

According to prosecutors, Fernandes was trafficking firearms and narcotics in the Brockton area, including large quantities of fentanyl, as far back as 2021. 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.

In two subsequent transactions in January and February 2022, Fernandes distributed and possessed with intent to distribute approximately 50 grams of fentanyl, for a total of approximately 100 grams.

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 on his person. During a search of the abandoned vehicle, large quantities of drugs were found inside, including 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 were also recovered.

The charge of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

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