This week, a Guatemalan national faced federal charges in Boston related to a conspiracy involving the distribution of more than five kilograms of fentanyl, which authorities estimate to be valued at about $1.25 million.
Rene Alejandro Salazar Reyes, 26, was charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was taken into custody on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, and is scheduled to appear before a court in Boston on Jan. 25, 2018, for a detention and probable cause hearing.
“Fentanyl is devastating communities across Massachusetts,” said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “Just a few milligrams of fentanyl can cause a fatal overdose. Saturday’s seizure of over five kilograms is an important step in our efforts to keep this deadly drug off our streets. This investigation is a testament to our commitment to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue individuals who seek to distribute deadly narcotics, without any regard for human life, throughout our neighborhoods and communities.”
Court documents indicate that in November 2017, a cooperating witness told a federal law enforcement officer that a Guatemalan individual was distributing heroin and/or fentanyl in the Boston area. Following a series of recorded phone calls and texts, the Guatemalan individual agreed to sell the cooperating witness five kilograms of fentanyl, which was to be delivered to Massachusetts. The witness agreed to pay $70,000 in advance for the drugs. Based on current estimates, one kilogram of fentanyl has a street value of $250,000, and one gram is valued at roughly $40 to $50.
It is alleged that on Jan. 19, 2018, the Guatemalan individual made a call, which was also recorded, to the cooperating witness and informed him that a courier would deliver the fentanyl to Massachusetts the following day. Shortly after, the cooperating witness received a call from the courier, who law enforcement identified as Salazar, who had been the subject of a prior criminal investigation in Maryland.
On Jan. 20, 2018, the cooperating witness called Salazar and asked for his location before driving to meet him so that Salazar could follow the witness to a location where the transaction would take place. While Salazar was speaking with the witness, surveillance officers observed him standing outside his vehicle. Once Salazar entered his car to follow the witness, agents intercepted him and directed officers to conduct a traffic stop.
According to the court documents, when the officer stopped Salazar for not stopping at a stop sign, Salazar appeared visibly anxious. The officer inquired if Salazar had any drugs or weapons in the car, and Salazar responded that he did not. When asked if the officer could search the car, Salazar said, “Yes, go ahead.” The officer then discovered a large plastic shopping bag on the rear passenger floorboard, which contained 23 individually heat-sealed clear plastic bags with approximately 5.2 kilograms of a white powdery substance. Salazar was then arrested.
Salazar could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, three years to a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million, and will be subject to deportation proceedings after his sentence is completed. The actual sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge, who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other relevant statutory factors.