BOSTON — A trio of men has been indicted by a federal grand jury for their alleged roles in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy in Central Massachusetts.
Luis Sastre Pagan, 37, of Puerto Rico and formerly of Southbridge, Eric Rivera, 31, of Southbridge, and Miguel Lopez, 27, of Southbridge, were all charged with one count of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
Lopez was also indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and one count of unlawful possession of a machine gun, according to court documents.
The indictment alleges that the three men conspired with each other and others to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine from April 2023 through April 2024.
Lopez was previously charged by criminal complaint for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and unlawful possession of a machine gun. According to the complaint, Lopez was in possession of a package containing approximately two kilograms of cocaine and a Glock 19 pistol with a Glock conversion attached.
The charge of conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million. Sastre Pagan faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum of 40 years in prison if convicted of the charge of conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, with assistance from DEA Puerto Rico and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.
The case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation, which identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related Federal Cases
- Luis Lopez Gets 15 Years for Cocaine, Fentanyl Empire · Puerto Rico
- Weymouth Dealer John Tavares Gets 10-Year Cocaine Trafficking Sentence · Puerto Rico
- Providence Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Involving USPS Kidnapping · Puerto Rico
- Providence Man Sentenced for Kidnapping USPS Employee in Cocaine Trafficking Plot · Puerto Rico
- South Kingstown Man Faces Cocaine Trafficking Charges · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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