Lowell Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Fentanyl

 BOSTON – A Lowell man pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Steven Perez, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl before U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young, who scheduled sentencing for Dec. 10, 2020. Perez was arrested and charged with co-defendant Anthony Holloway, of Methuen, on Dec. 11, 2019.

Over the course of several months, law enforcement investigated Perez and Holloway’s fentanyl distribution operation. Perez and, allegedly, Holloway used an elderly housing complex run by the Methuen Housing Authority to conduct drug sales.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 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 court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Field Office; and Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon 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 documents are allegations. The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.