Previously Deported Dominican National Sentenced For Role In Fentanyl Conspiracy

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced on Friday, April 5, 2019, in federal court in Boston for his role in a fentanyl conspiracy. 

Wareng Jhonny Villar-Ortiz, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 73 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Villar-Ortiz will be subject to deportation upon completion of his sentence. In January 2019, Villar Ortiz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of illegal reentry of a deported alien.

A federal drug investigation determined that Villar-Ortiz was a mid-level drug distributor and that Saul Martinez Escarfuller had delivered a kilogram of drugs to Villar-Ortiz in late January 2018. In February 2018, Villar-Ortiz expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of the drugs and made arrangements to return them to Martinez Escarfuller. On Feb. 14, 2018, agents observed Martinez Escarfuller exit Villar-Ortiz’s apartment building and drive off. A short while later, Martinez Escarfuller stopped his car and Joel Cesar Baez exited the vehicle and entered another car. Agents then stopped the second vehicle and asked Baez and the driver to exit. A large plastic bag, which was subsequently determined to contain 789.9 grams of fentanyl, was recovered from inside Baez’s coat.

Angel Milciades Santana Polanco was typically a distributor for Villar-Ortiz and he tested the quality of Villar-Ortiz’ drugs. Between Feb. 8 and Feb. 12, 2018, Santana Polanco offered to supply Villar-Ortiz with a kilogram of drugs. Before deciding whether to purchase the drugs, Villar-Ortiz wanted to test their quality. On Feb. 15, 2018, Villar-Ortiz expressed that the drugs were unacceptable and made arrangements for Santana Polanco to take them back. During a search of Villar-Ortriz’s residence, 978.6 grams of fentanyl from a hiding spot in the bathroom wall was seized. 

Villar-Ortiz was previously deported from the United States in 2016.

Santana Polanco was sentenced on Feb. 1, 2019, to five years in prison and three years of supervised release. Cesar Baez, who was a runner for a fentanyl supplier, was sentenced on Jan. 29, 2019, to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Martinez Escarfuller is scheduled to be sentenced on May 30, 2019.

 United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division, made the announcement.  Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston, Ipswich, and Arlington Police Departments.  Assistant U.S. Attorney James E. Arnold of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.