BOSTON – Anthony Smallwood, 28, of Boston, is facing serious federal charges after being indicted yesterday for allegedly flooding the streets with fentanyl. The indictment comes after Smallwood was initially arrested on May 22, 2019, and has remained in custody ever since.
According to federal prosecutors, Smallwood is accused of two counts of distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, fentanyl. But the charges don’t stop there. He’s also facing three counts of distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, more than 40 grams of the deadly opioid. Court records paint a picture of a calculated operation, with Smallwood allegedly engaging in five separate drug sales to a confidential informant between March and May of 2019.
This wasn’t a small-time operation. If convicted on the charges related to the larger fentanyl quantities, Smallwood is looking at a mandatory minimum of five years behind bars, and potentially up to 40 years. Even the lesser charges carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years. Add to that, a minimum of three to four years of supervised release, and fines reaching up to $5 million. The final sentence will be determined by a federal judge, taking into account sentencing guidelines and other factors.
United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office, jointly announced the indictment. The investigation was spearheaded by the FBI’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Strike Force, with crucial support from the Boston Police Department and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink, of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit, is leading the prosecution.
Grimy Times reminds readers that these are merely allegations at this stage. Smallwood is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. However, the sheer volume of fentanyl involved – and the ongoing opioid crisis gripping the nation – underscores the gravity of these charges.
The feds are sending a clear message: those who profit from pushing this poison will be aggressively pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This case serves as a stark reminder of the relentless battle against the flow of deadly drugs into our communities, and the ongoing efforts to hold accountable those responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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