A man from Lynn has entered a guilty plea to charges linked to fentanyl distribution in the North Shore area. Ricardo Bratini-Perez, also known by the aliases “Rico” and “Ricofromthesin,” 29, admitted guilt on several counts of drug distribution and possession, including methamphetamine and fentanyl variants, according to a release by the United States Attorney's Office.
Bratini-Perez's guilty plea came after a grand jury indictment on October 3, in the midst of his probation period stemming from past armed robbery and firearm charges. Selling drugs on multiple occasions to an undercover officer in March and April of this year, he was arrested on April 8. Over 5,000 grams of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl were found at his residence by investigators following his arrest, carrying a potential life sentence.
As detailed by the United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy along with key figures from Homeland Security Investigations, Massachusetts State Police, and Lynn Police Department, the charges could lead Bratini-Perez to a minimum of a decade up to a lifetime behind bars. Aiding in the announcements were representatives from the Essex County District Attorney's Office, highlighting the collaborative effort in tackling the narcotics case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard, from the Organized Crime and Gang Unit, is managing the prosecution, with a scheduled sentencing by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin on March 17, 2025. The fate of Bratini-Perez now rests in a courtroom come next spring, as he faces a serious time for the possession with intent to distribute 400 grams and more of a substance containing fentanyl, following an orderly sequence according to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
