⏱ 2 min read
Elmidio Crisostomo and David Depena, two Massachusetts men, manufactured thousands of counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl in a Lynn apartment from late 2022 through June 2023. They distributed these deadly pills in Malden, Saugus, and Revere, putting countless lives at risk. The motive behind their actions was likely profit, as they sought to capitalize on the opioid epidemic. The operation was eventually shut down in June 2023, when authorities searched the apartment and recovered over three kilograms of fentanyl and 500 grams of methamphetamine.
The investigation led to the indictment of Crisostomo and Depena by a federal grand jury in November 2023. Both men pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances on September 9, 2025. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns sentenced Crisostomo to 53 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, on June 10, 2026. Depena received the same sentence on December 10, 2025.
The sentences mark a significant victory for law enforcement in the fight against fentanyl trafficking. The DEA, along with the Lynn Police Department and the Revere Police Department, provided valuable assistance in the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman prosecuted the case, which was announced by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division.
The use of a large hand-crank-style pill press in the manufacturing process highlights the sophistication and scale of the operation. The fact that Crisostomo and Depena were able to produce thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl is a stark reminder of the dangers of the opioid epidemic and the need for continued vigilance from law enforcement.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Drug Trafficking
- Defendant: Massachusetts
- Location: MA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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