New Bedford Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl

BOSTON – A New Bedford man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to distributing fentanyl, a deadly synthetic opioid.

Willy Baez, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock deferred acceptance of the plea until the sentencing hearing, which he scheduled for Feb. 1, 2018.

On Dec. 21, 2015, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the apartment Baez shared with his girlfriend.  The search resulted in the seizure of 49 grams of fentanyl and acetyl fentanyl, as well as various drug packaging paraphernalia.

Baez faces a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 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 William D. Weinreb and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro made the announcement today.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Ferguson of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.