A Stoughton man has struck a deal with federal prosecutors in a fentanyl trafficking case that could land him behind bars for the rest of his life. Angel Morales, 52, pleaded guilty to his role in a wide-ranging conspiracy that saw him shipping packages containing the deadly opioid from post offices across Massachusetts.
Morales was indicted in December 2022 alongside co-conspirators Quenty Ogando, Erika Prado and Rahelin Reynoso. The indictment alleged that Morales was involved in a scheme involving a large-scale pill press operation that manufactured, sold and mailed counterfeit pills, including those containing fentanyl.
Between September and November 2022, Morales shipped over 150 packages containing controlled substances from various post offices and FedEx facilities in Boston, Randolph, Holbrook, Quincy, Mattapan, Braintree, Milton and elsewhere. On multiple occasions, FedEx employees opened packages and found clear plastic sandwich bags filled with pills with markings consistent with prescription-only medication that later tested positive for fentanyl.
Morales was observed leaving an apartment in Mattapan before traveling to multiple post offices and FedEx facilities. A subsequent search of the apartment uncovered over 20 kilograms of pills in various colors, 20 kilograms of loose powder, numerous packages and mailing labels, electronic devices, cash and three industrial grade pill presses. Fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine were also found at the apartment.
Morales is the fourth and final defendant to plead guilty in the case. Ogando was sentenced to 144 months in prison and five years of supervised release in January. Prado and Reynoso are scheduled to be sentenced on April 30 and June 3, respectively.
Both charges against Morales provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentencing is set for September 5, 2024. The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division, with assistance from the Boston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, United States Customs and Border Protection, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane and Jennifer Zacks are prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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