RI man sentenced to prison for trafficking fentanyl in Massachusetts

BOSTON (WWLP) – A man from Rhode Island was sentenced in connection with a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy in Massachusetts.

According to the Boston Department of Justice, an investigation in March 2021 began into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operation in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island led by Estarlin Ortiz-Alcantara . Detectives intercepted numerous cellphone conversations between Ortiz-Alcantara and 45-year-old Alfredo Valdez of Providence, R.I.

They identified Valdez as a member of the DTO who conspired with Ortiz-Alcantara to regularly distribute multi-kilograms of fentanyl from a base of operations at a stash house in Fall River. Detectives seized more than 12 kilograms of fentanyl stored in various ceiling panels, blenders, a hydraulic press, and baggies during a search of the Fall River house in July 2022.

A federal grand jury indicted ten people in August 2022 in connection with the conspiracy. Valdez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced on Tuesday to 30 months in prison and three years of supervised release.

Ortiz-Alcantara pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9th.

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