Lawrence Man Arrested For Fentanyl Possession

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was arrested on March 12, 2019, and charged in federal court in Boston with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. 

Yoan Paniagua, 24, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He appeared in federal court in Boston on March 12, 2019, and was ordered detained pending a detention and probable cause hearing set for March 19, 2019.

On March 12, 2019, law enforcement stopped Paniagua, who was driving on Route 495 in Andover, and seized approximately 500 grams of fentanyl from his vehicle.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a minimum of 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.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division; and Colonel Kerry Gilpin, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

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