Bernardo Tovar, Fentanyl Conspiracy, New York 2023

ALBANY, N.Y. – Bernardo Tovar, 34, of Amsterdam, New York, has admitted to flooding the streets with enough fentanyl to kill thousands, and armed himself to protect the profits. Tovar pled guilty today to a drug trafficking conspiracy, possessing and intending to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and illegally possessing a firearm while engaged in his criminal enterprise. The bust, a joint operation between the DEA and ATF, paints a grim picture of the opioid crisis gripping upstate New York.

According to federal prosecutors, Tovar’s operation ran from May 2022 to December 2022. He wasn’t dealing in small amounts; Tovar admitted to distributing over 160 grams of the deadly synthetic opioid fentanyl, disguised as counterfeit oxycodone pills, alongside cocaine and methamphetamine. This wasn’t a victimless crime. Every gram represents potential overdoses, ruined lives, and shattered families. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York is treating it as such.

The ATF’s involvement stems from the fact that Tovar, a convicted felon with a prior violent felony conviction for attempted robbery, was found with a loaded handgun in his Amsterdam apartment on December 7, 2022, during a search. He wasn’t packing heat for self-defense, authorities say – it was to safeguard his drug stash and the cash he was raking in. This blatant disregard for the law, combined with the deadly nature of his product, has landed him in serious trouble.

U.S. Attorney Carla B. Freedman, along with Frank A. Tarentino III, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New York Division, and John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s New York Field Division, announced the guilty plea. They are sending a clear message: those who profit from poisoning communities will be relentlessly pursued and prosecuted. The DEA and ATF agents worked tirelessly on this case, and their efforts have taken a dangerous criminal off the streets.

Tovar now faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence. He is scheduled to appear before Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda K. Sannes on March 20, 2024. If convicted, Tovar could receive a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison, along with a fine of up to $8 million and a minimum eight-year term of supervised release. The final sentence will be determined by Judge Sannes, considering federal sentencing guidelines and the specifics of the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander P. Wentworth-Ping is leading the prosecution. This case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle against fentanyl and the commitment of federal agencies to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and bring those responsible to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing in March.

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