A Bronx man has been sentenced to a prison term of over two years for his role in fentanyl distribution in the Worcester area. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, 32-year-old Jose Luis Lopez Genao pled guilty in June 2024 to a count of distribution of and possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, following his arrest in December 2022.
Genao, a resident of the Bronx, NY, was apprehended after transporting around one kilogram of fentanyl from New York to the Worcester area. He reportedly delivered the narcotics directly to a government witness, resulting in his arrest on December 8, 2022. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni sentenced him to 30 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.
The investigation, which identified Genao and others as players in a network receiving and distributing large quantities of fentanyl within New England, was the result of a collaborative effort spanning multiple agencies. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy noted the arrest and the help provided by homeland Security Investigations in New England; Massachusetts State Police; and local police departments among others. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Unit.
This case is part of a larger Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative. According to the Justice Department's website, OCDETF aims to establish a collaborative, multi-agency strategy to address drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten national security. This task force model brings together agents from various agencies to share information and develop strategies for dismantling major criminal enterprises.
