Former Lawrence Public School Aide Sentenced on Drug Charges

BOSTON – A former aide at a Lawrence public school was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for drug charges involving kilos of cocaine and thousands of oxycodone pills.

Reynaldo Sanchez, 26, of Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young to five years in prison and four years of supervised release. In May 2017, Sanchez pleaded guilty to attempted possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

In August 2015, federal agents began investigating Sanchez for his involvement in a narcotics and money laundering organization operating in the Boston area. During the investigation, Sanchez arranged to purchase 10–15 kilograms of cocaine for $33,000 per kilogram from undercover federal agents. Between March 29, 2016, and March 31, 2016, Sanchez sought to purchase what he believed were 4,000 oxycodone pills for $12 per pill from an undercover agent posing as a drug courier. At the time of his arrest, Sanchez was carrying with him $48,000 in cash. After executing a search warrant at Sanchez’s residence, agents recovered approximately 2.2 kilograms of cocaine.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Office; and Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistance was also provided by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police and the Lawrence, Franklin, Wareham and Dartmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D’Addio and Kelly Begg Lawrence of Weinreb’s Criminal Division prosecuted the case.