William Panzera, Fentanyl Trafficking, New Jersey 2020

A New Jersey man has been convicted of conspiring to traffic fentanyl-related substances and launder money. William Panzera, 51, of North Haledon, was found guilty by a federal jury in Newark on January 27.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Panzera and other members of a drug trafficking organization agreed to import and distribute controlled substances and controlled substance analogues, including fentanyl analogues, methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), methylone, and ketamine. The conspirators ordered controlled substances and analogues from a source in China and paid those sources hundreds of thousands of dollars via wire transfer and cryptocurrency.

The jury convicted Panzera of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of furanyl fentanyl and 100 grams or more of 4-fluoroisobutyryl fentanyl and conspiracy to commit international promotional money laundering.

Panzera faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, a maximum penalty of life in prison, and a fine of up to $10 million for the drug trafficking conspiracy charge, and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 for the money laundering conspiracy charge.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

HSI Newark is investigating the case, and HSI Philadelphia, the FBI Newark Field Office, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Newark Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Newark Police Department, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office provided valuable assistance.

This 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.

Panzera's conviction marks another significant blow to the fentanyl trafficking ring operating in New Jersey. The case highlights the importance of international cooperation in disrupting the flow of illicit substances and bringing those responsible to justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/new-jersey-man-convicted-conspiring-traffic-fentanyl-related-substances-and-launder-money