A Dominican national residing unlawfully in Lawrence, Massachusetts, has been taken into custody and charged in connection with a conspiracy to distribute a substantial quantity of fentanyl pills and for illegal reentry into the United States.
Juan Alexis Rodriguez Garcia, age 35, is accused of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and unlawful reentry after deportation. He was apprehended and detained following initial court proceedings in Boston.
According to the case documents, Rodriguez Garcia entered the United States in December 2009 as a Lawful Permanent Resident of Puerto Rico. In November 2016, he faced arrest in North Andover, Massachusetts for fentanyl distribution and he was convicted in May 2018. He was deported in November 2018, but allegedly returned to the United States without authorization.
The charging documents outline that on March 30, 2025, in the course of an ongoing drug trafficking probe, law enforcement aimed to execute a controlled buy of 65,000 fentanyl pills from a known trafficker. On April 2, 2025, Rodriguez Garcia is alleged to have appeared at a predetermined location in Lawrence for the narcotics exchange and was taken into custody for immigration-related offenses.
A subsequent search of the location Rodriguez Garcia allegedly visited before the intended drug transaction revealed approximately 64,390 fentanyl pills designed to mimic pharmaceutical drugs. These were reportedly found divided into three vacuum-sealed bags inside a black duffel bag in a closet, with fingerprints matching those of Rodriguez Garcia reportedly recovered from the bags. The pills weighed over 7.2 kilograms in total.
If convicted, the conspiracy to distribute charge imposes a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to a maximum of life imprisonment, accompanied by at least five years of supervised release to a lifetime, and a fine reaching $10 million. The charge for unlawful reentry carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years imprisonment, supervised release for up to three years, and a fine up to $250,000. Post-sentence, Rodriguez Garcia faces deportation. Sentencing decisions are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant legal statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley, alongside Stephen Belleau from the Drug Enforcement Administration New England Division, Patricia H. Hyde from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston, Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations New England, and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble from Massachusetts State Police, announced the apprehension. The Hudson, New Hampshire Police Department also provided significant support to the operation. Assistant United States Attorney Kunal Pasricha of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is leading the prosecution.
The charges outlined remain accusations, and Rodriguez Garcia is presumed innocent until guilt is established in a court proceeding.