Boston Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

BOSTON – A Boston man pleaded guilty today to drug trafficking offenses in connection with distributing multiple kilograms of fentanyl and thousands of counterfeit fentanyl pills to undercover agents. 

Luis Sonier Bautista Moreta, 26, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for April 26, 2023. Bautista was indicted in January 2022 and has been in custody since his arrest in November 2021.

Bautista’s relative negotiated two sales of fentanyl to an undercover officer. Bautista handled the sales transactions, which took place on Oct. 22, 2021 in Attleboro and on Nov. 1, 2021 in Dorchester. Both times, Bautista entered the car of a cooperating source acting on behalf of the undercover officer and delivered fentanyl. The first transaction involved one kilogram of fentanyl and 6,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl; the second transaction involved an additional kilogram of fentanyl. Bautista’s relative arranged for Bautista to sell 1,000 more pills to the undercover officer on Nov. 5, 2021, but Bautista left before completing the deal. , On Nov. 10, 2021, a search of Bautista’s residence resulted in the seizure of 1,000 pills containing fentanyl.

The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

United States Attorney Rachael S. Rollins and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the Boston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.