Ethan W. Coughlin, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Fentanyl, Massachusetts 2024

A Saugus man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Ethan W. Coughlin, 37, of Saugus, Massachusetts, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 10 years in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for his role in the conspiracy.

According to the charges, Coughlin conspired with others to distribute thousands of counterfeit pills containing methamphetamine and fentanyl. The pills were manufactured in Mexico and contained a deadly combination of the illicit substances.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with the assistance of the Boston Police Department and the Essex District Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts prosecuted the case.

Coughlin pleaded guilty to the charge on February 14, 2024. The sentencing hearing was held on April 5, 2024.

The investigation revealed that the defendants were involved in a large-scale trafficking operation that distributed counterfeit pills to customers in Massachusetts and other states.

Coughlin’s sentencing brings to a close a long and complex investigation that involved law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts commends the hard work and dedication of the agents and prosecutors who worked on this case.

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