Edwin Collazo, Fentanyl Conspiracy, Massachusetts 2023

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New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Conspiracy

In a devastating blow to the streets of New Bedford, 27-year-old Edwin Collazo has pleaded guilty to his role in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

According to court documents, Collazo was involved in purchasing fentanyl from the DTO, which he then redistributed to others. Intercepted communications revealed Collazo discussing purchasing fentanyl from the DTO and surveillance footage showed other members of the DTO visiting Collazo’s residence for brief periods of times, which is consistent with illegal drug trafficking.

Between approximately March 2022 and June 2022, Collazo was actively involved in the fentanyl trade, purchasing the deadly substance from the DTO and selling it to others. Fentanyl was also seized during a search of Collazo’s residence in July 2022.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million.

U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs has scheduled sentencing for September 5, 2023. The announcement was made by Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira; and Fairhaven Police Chief Michael J. Myers.

The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John T. Mulcahy of Levy’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case. Special assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police; Homeland Security Investigations; Bristol County Sherriff’s Office; and Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Scituate, Yarmouth, Providence (R.I.) and West Warwick (R.I.) Police Departments.