Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl

BOSTON – A Dominican national previously residing in Dorchester pleaded guilty yesterday to distributing fentanyl.

Snolbert Ramirez-Sandoval, 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of fentanyl and two counts of employment or use of persons under 18 years of age in drug operations. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for July 9, 2021. Ramirez-Sandoval was charged in August 2018.

Sandoval sold fentanyl on July 26, 2018, by directing the buyer to go to an apartment in Roslindale. The sole occupants were two young boys (one between 10-and-14-years-old and the other between 2-and-6-years-old). The older boy led the buyer to the room in which Ramirez-Sandoval had left the fentanyl. The buyer paid the older child for the substance and left. On Aug. 2, 2018, the buyer returned to the Roslindale apartment to purchase additional fentanyl from Ramirez-Sandoval who told the buyer by phone that he was not yet there, but the kids were upstairs and instructed the buyer to ring the buzzer. The buyer was greeted by the same two children. Approximately 20 minutes later, Ramirez-Sandoval and another individual arrived at the apartment and sold the buyer the fentanyl

The charge of distribution of fentanyl carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The charge of employment or use of persons under 18 years of age in drug operations carries a sentence of up to 45 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $300,000. Ramirez-Sandoval will be subject to deportation proceedings. 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; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.