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Press Release

Dominican National Charged with Fentanyl Trafficking

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Dominican national was indicted today by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with trafficking fentanyl.

Eric Encarnacion Medina, 33, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Medina was previously charged by criminal complaint and has been in federal custody since his arrest on Feb. 12, 2021.

According to court documents, a drug supplier based in the Dominican Republic arranged to sell one kilogram of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in Massachusetts. The supplier arranged to have Encarnacion Medina transport the drugs from New York to Massachusetts. On Jan. 28, 2021, Encarnacion Medina allegedly drove to Massachusetts and sold the drugs to the cooperating witness in a parking lot in Watertown.

The charges of conspiracy and distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The operation was conducted by a multi-agency task force through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a partnership between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking, and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. More information on the OCDETF program is available here: https://www.justice.gov/ocdetf/about-ocdetf.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Updated April 7, 2021

Topic
Drug Trafficking