A Manassas man has been sentenced to 142 months in prison for his role in selling nearly 1,000 counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, as well as illegally possessing and selling firearms in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Alexandria, Virginia – Richard Michael Perez, 26, was identified by law enforcement as a source of supply for various narcotics in September 2020. Over the course of transactions spanning from September 2020 through June 2021, Perez sold nearly 1,000 pills containing fentanyl to an undercover law enforcement agent.
During the sales, Perez mentioned that he owned firearms, and in April 2021, he sold a semi-automatic rifle to the undercover law enforcement agent. Perez had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses in Virginia and was thus prohibited from possessing firearms at the time of this offense.
In June 2021, Perez was taken into custody, and a search of his residence revealed additional narcotics, a privately manufactured firearm devoid of a serial number or other unique identifier, various ammunition, and over $9,000 in cash.
Perez’s criminal history and possession of firearms while prohibited led to a conviction on charges of selling counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and illegally possessing and selling firearms.
U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston sentenced Perez to 142 months in prison for his crimes.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, Perez’s sentencing is a result of a coordinated effort between the ATF, DEA, Fairfax County Police, Prince William County Police, and the Virginia Attorney General’s Office.
Related Federal Cases
- Michael Stanley Wright, Methamphetamine and Fentanyl Possession, West Virginia 2020-2021 · Virginia
- Michael Moon, Aiding and Abetting the Distribution of Methamphetamine, West Virginia 2020 · Virginia
- Matthew Scott Upton, Drug Trafficking and Firearms, West Virginia 2020 · Massachusetts
- Joshua Aaron Roy, Firearm and Fentanyl Charges, West Virginia 2020 · Washington
- Richard James Pfost, Heroin and Gun Crimes, West Virginia 2021 · Washington
Key Facts
- State: Virginia
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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