Cecilio Guzman, Fentanyl Trafficking, Massachusetts 2019

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – A shocking case of fentanyl trafficking has unfolded in Lawrence, Massachusetts, as 28-year-old Cecilio Guzman, a Dominican national, pleaded guilty to selling 120 grams of the deadly opioid.

The crime took place on November 20, 2019, when Guzman met with a cooperating witness in Lawrence and sold him 120 grams of fentanyl. The defendant was subsequently arrested by state authorities that same day.

Guzman, a resident of Lawrence at the time of the crime, arranged to sell the fentanyl to the government witness and was caught red-handed. He has been in federal custody since his arrest.

The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, as well as at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division, made the announcement today. The investigation was conducted with the assistance of the Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, and Wilmington Police Departments. Special assistance was provided by the Essex District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. Guzman’s sentencing is scheduled for March 12, 2021.

The case highlights the ongoing struggle against fentanyl trafficking in Massachusetts and the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies in preventing such crimes.

Guzman, a native of the Dominican Republic, faces a significant sentence for his role in the fentanyl trafficking operation. The case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of opioid addiction and the need for continued efforts to combat it.

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