Lawrence Man Sentenced to Over Seven Years for Role in Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy

BOSTON – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

Francis Manuel Santos Arias, 25, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 87 months in prison and three years of supervised release. In October 2023, Arias pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Arias was indicted by a federal grand jury along with co-defendant Eddy Reyes Tejada in December 2022.

In January 2022, Arias was identified as a cocaine and fentanyl distributor seeking customers in the greater Boston and Lawrence areas. During the investigation, Arias distributed a total of over 700 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness over the course of four controlled purchases.

Tejada was sentenced in November 2023 to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release after previously pleading guilty to his role in the drug conspiracy.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Interim Commissioner Shawn Jenkins of the Massachusetts Department of Correction; and John E. Mawn Jr., Interim Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Fitchburg and Lunenburg Police Departments provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea E. Porter of the Criminal Division prosecuted 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.