BOSTON – A Lawrence man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

Eddy Reyes Tejada, 51 pleaded guilty on July 20, 2023 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; and one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for Oct. 19, 2023. Tejada was indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2022.

Between January and December 2022, Tejada conspired to distribute fentanyl in and around the Lawrence area. Specifically, on June 14, 2022, Tejada distributed 40 grams or more of fentanyl in Lawrence. On Sept. 6, 2022, Tejada distributed 400 grams or more of fentanyl in Lawrence.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and of distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl each provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of distribution and/or possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Commissioner Carol Mici of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn, Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance in the investigation was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.