A man identified as a Dominican national and convicted of a serious drug offense has been sentenced to prison following a period of surveillance and his eventual arrest for involvement in fentanyl distribution. Santo Rafael Franco Andujar, who initially used a false identity, will serve 11 years behind bars, followed by five years of supervised release, as mandated by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Detailed evidence gathered during 2021 led to the conviction of Franco Andujar. On multiple occasions, he was recorded selling fentanyl, once over 100 grams to a cooperating witness in the town of Lawrence. Law enforcement was also able to quickly follow his maneuvers to an apartment in Boston where they uncovered a larger stash. When arrested, Franco Andujar was again found to be in possession to distribute over 100 grams of the narcotic. The scale of the operations became clearer when a search at the property resulted in the discovery of over a kilogram of fentanyl cleverly hidden within a wall.
The arrest and conviction of Franco Andujar stemmed from his activities under a stolen identity, which he had used until his conviction when he agreed to reveal his true name to authorities. Further illustrating the gravity of his offenses, his illegal presence in the United States has been confirmed, adding possible deportation proceedings to his list of legal woes. Cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on his part will reportedly determine the outcome of those proceedings.
The collaborative effort that led to the sentencing was accentuated by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration New England Field Division. Recognition for valuable assistance was given to the Lawrence Police Department. With the prosecution overseen by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Dolan and Lauren A. Graber, the case has reached a conclusion that intends to serve as a deterrence to those choosing to engage in similar illicit drug activities.
