Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Distribution

 BOSTON – A Dominican national who previously resided in Clifton, N.J., pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to fentanyl distribution.

Carlos Nunez, 49, pleaded guilty one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Dec. 8, 2021. Nunez was indicted in September 2019 along with co-defendant Yamel Cuevas Gonzalez.

Over the course of approximately six months in 2019, Nunez and Gonzalez conspired to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl to an individual in Massachusetts. Specifically, on two occasions in July and August of 2019, Nunez distributed more than 400 grams of fentanyl to the buyer. Nunez and Gonzalez were arrested after driving from New York to Walpole to distribute fentanyl in August 2019. 

On May 3, 2021, Gonzalez was sentenced by Judge Talwani to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Upon completion of his sentence, Gonzalez will face deportation to the Dominican Republic.

The charges provide for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, a minimum of five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Walpole and Dedham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nadine Pellegrini of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.