A Worcester man has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison following a conviction for fentanyl distribution and illegal firearms possession. Yoelfi Feliz, 27, received a 74-month imprisonment sentence, which will be succeeded by four years of supervised release. Convicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition after a prior felony, Feliz faced justice in the Boston federal court.
During a span extending from June to October 2023, Feliz's dealings included selling over 700 grams of fentanyl and a variety of firearms to a cooperating witness in Lawrence. Crucial support for the case was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and local police departments in Lawrence, Methuen, and Worcester, as reported by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Two pistols, an AR-15 and an AK-47 rifles, as well as two "ghost guns" were also in the mix of Feliz's sales to the cooperating witness, which weren't legally registered or traceable, complicating the efforts to pin down sources in firearm-related crimes.
Feliz's apprehension and subsequent sentencing are part of the broader push against violent crime under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN has been refortified since May 2021 to improve crime prevention and law enforcement collaboration, aiming to build trust within communities and support violence prevention initiatives.
The case against Feliz was also linked to the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative. This initiative focuses on collaborative, intelligence-driven operations to dismantle the most substantial drug traffickers and criminal organizations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case, as stated by the Justice Department's announcement. The success seen in Feliz's case reflects the ongoing commitment to disrupting criminal enterprises that pose a threat to national safety and public health.
