Distributor of Prescription Drugs Pleads Guilty
PHILADELPHIA –Joseph Fareri, 51, of Philadelphia, pled guilty today in federal court to charges
of trafficking oxycodone pills.
Fareri was charged by federal indictment in December, 2011 with participating in a conspiracy to
distribute oxycodone pills, along with William Andrews and John Marshall. Fareri and Andrews were also
charged with multiple counts of distributing oxycodone pills and distributing oxycodone pills within 1,000
feet of schools and playgrounds at various locations in South Philadelphia.
Fareri pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and one count of distributing oxycodone pills near a
Catholic elementary school. Andrews pled guilty on April 11, 2012 to the conspiracy charge and one count
of distributing oxycodone pills within 1,000 feet of an Catholic elementary school in South Philadelphia.
The federal indictment charged that the conspiracy lasted from 2009 through April 28, 2012, when
investigative agents from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office (PAGO) executed search warrant at
numerous locations in South Philadelphia. The indictment charged the conspiracy with distributing 7,000
oxycodone pills.
At today’s guilty plea hearing, Fareri admitted selling 30 mg. oxycodone pills to a person who was
working with PAGO agents in an undercover capacity. Fareri sold drugs to the undercover operative on five
separate occasions between November 2010 and February 2011. Fareri also obtained oxycodone pills from
Andrews and distributed them to a person identified in the indictment as Customer #4.
In addition to the undercover operation, PAGO agents also conducted court-authorized wiretaps on
cellular telephones used by Fareri and Andrews.
Sentencing is scheduled for September 2012.
This case is prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Labor
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525
