⏱ 2 min read
Shawn Hart, a 45-year-old Methuen man with a history of felony convictions, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition. The crimes took place on the North Shore of Massachusetts, where Hart was identified as a manufacturer and distributor of counterfeit pills in August 2022. Hart’s arrest and sentencing are the result of a lengthy investigation that culminated in a guilty plea in October 2025.
Hart’s crimes were uncovered through controlled purchases, including one on September 15, 2022, where he distributed approximately 500 counterfeit Adderall pills containing 68 grams of fentanyl. Another controlled purchase on June 1, 2023, resulted in the seizure of 100 counterfeit oxycodone pills and a 9mm privately manufactured firearm, also known as a ghost gun.
Following his arrest, Hart’s residence was searched, and three additional firearms, a pill press, and suspected narcotics were seized. Hart’s prior convictions, including possession with intent to distribute a class A controlled substance and armed robbery, prohibited him from possessing firearms and ammunition.
Hart pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl, one count of possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, one count of using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense, and one count of being a felon in possession of ammunition. He was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
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📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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