Boston man Anthony Smallwood, 28, is behind bars on federal charges tied to the distribution of a lethal batch of fentanyl. Smallwood was hit with a criminal complaint charging him with one count of distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, more than 40 grams of fentanyl — a substance responsible for thousands of overdoses nationwide.
Smallwood appeared in federal court in Boston today, where he was ordered held without bail pending a detention and probable cause hearing. Prosecutors allege the arrest stems from a months-long sting operation, during which Smallwood allegedly completed five separate drug sales involving suspected fentanyl and crack cocaine to a government cooperating witness between March and May 2019.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 40 years, along with a fine of up to $5 million and no less than four years of supervised release. If convicted, Smallwood will face sentencing under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, with a federal judge weighing statutory factors before imposing a final term.
The takedown was announced jointly by United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling, Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office, and Boston Police Commissioner William Gross. The operation was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force, a multi-agency unit targeting high-level narcotics networks.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is leading the prosecution. Authorities say evidence gathered during controlled buys and witness cooperation formed the backbone of the criminal complaint now lodged against Smallwood.
The details in the charging documents remain allegations. Anthony Smallwood is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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