Fitchburg Man Charged With Fentanyl Trafficking

BOSTON – A Fitchburg man was indicted yesterday in federal court in Boston in connection with drug trafficking activities involving fentanyl.

Sebastian Batista, 25, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Batista was arrested on state charges on Feb. 28, 2019, and has been in custody since. Batista will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

The charge of distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years and up to a lifetime 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 other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Waltham Police Department and the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen W. Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

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.