Stoughton Man Who Mailed Packages Containing Fentanyl Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

BOSTON - A Stoughton man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston to his role in a wide-ranging fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

Angel Morales, 52, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 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 Court Judge Angel Kelley scheduled sentencing for Sept. 5, 2024. In December 2022, Morales was indicted along with co-conspirators Quenty Ogando, Erika Prado and Rahelin Reynoso.

Between September 2022 and November 2022, Morales was involved in a scheme involving a large-scale pill press operation that manufactured, sold, and mailed counterfeit pills, including pills containing fentanyl, among other drugs. Morales' role within the operation was to ship the packages from various post offices across Massachusetts. On multiple occasions, Morales used various post offices and FedEx facilities in Boston, Randolph, Holbrook, Quincy, Mattapan, Braintree, Milton and elsewhere to mail over 150 packages knowing that some of the packages contained controlled substances. On at least two occasions, FedEx employees opened packages pursuant to their internal procedures, and observed clear plastic sandwich bags filled with pills with markings consistent with prescription-only medication that later tested positive for fentanyl.

On multiple occasions in October and November Morales was observed leaving an apartment in Mattapan before travelling to multiple post offices and FedEx facilities. During a subsequent search of that apartment, over 20 kilograms of pills in various colors, a sample of which tested positive for fentanyl, over 20 kilograms of loose powder, a sample of which tested positive for fentanyl, numerous packages and mailing labels, electronic devices, cash and three industrial grade pill presses were recovered. In addition, fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine were also found at the apartment.

Morales is the fourth and final defendant to plead guilty in the case. On Jan. 31, 2024, Ogando was sentenced to 144 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Prado and Reynoso are scheduled to be sentenced on April 30, 2024, and June 3, 2024, respectively.

Both charges provide for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Boston Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; United States Customs and Border Protection; Drug Enforcement Administration; and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys J. Mackenzie Duane and Jennifer Zacks of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.