Jose A. Ventura, Fentanyl Distribution, Massachusetts 2019

BOSTON, MA – A brazen fentanyl sale led to a Lawrence man’s downfall in federal court. Jose A. Ventura, 39, was sentenced to time served, five months of home confinement, and three years of supervised release for distributing and possessing fentanyl.

On July 16, 2019, investigators witnessed Ventura sell approximately 10 grams of fentanyl in a street-level drug transaction in Lawrence. When investigators approached him, he threw five additional bags of fentanyl on the ground. The total amount of fentanyl attributable to Ventura was nearly 15 grams.

Ventura pleaded guilty in November 2019 to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Weinstein of Mendell’s Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit.

The operation that led to Ventura’s arrest was part of a coordinated enforcement effort in the Merrimack Valley dubbed “Devil’s Highway.” The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.

Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Massachusetts State Police, the Lawrence Police Department, and the North Andover Police Department in the case.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, made the announcement.

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