A Lowell man who turned his apartment kitchen into a crack factory has pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and firearms charges, wrapping up a months-long investigation that swung from undercover buys to a search warrant in early October 2025.
Plea and charges
Marc Sanchez, 31, admitted in Boston federal court to two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, along with being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Sanchez was arrested on Oct. 1, 2025, and has been held in federal custody while the case moved toward a plea.
Investigators say he 'cooked' crack in his kitchen
According to court records, a cooperating witness arranged to buy about 1.5 ounces of crack from Sanchez on Sept. 17, 2025, paying approximately $1,900, and recorded Sanchez converting powder cocaine into crack on his kitchen stove, as reported by the Lowell Sun. Prosecutors say Sanchez tried to keep some distance from the trade by using phone numbers and vehicles registered to other people to set up deals, and that those undercover purchases and recordings became key evidence in the federal complaint.
Evidence recovered during the search
When agents executed a search warrant on Oct. 1, 2025, they seized drug-coated cookware, additional cocaine, packaging materials and more than $3,000 in cash, and found two loaded 9mm handguns locked in a safe in Sanchez’s apartment, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Prosecutors say the stash, the cash and the guns together tied Sanchez to active street-level distribution and supported the firearms counts in the indictment.
Legal implications
Because the drug counts involve 28 grams or more of cocaine base, federal law sets a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison, per Cornell Law School. Federal law also bars firearm possession by convicted felons and generally carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison; defendants with certain prior convictions can face higher mandatory minimum sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act, according to Cornell Law School.
Where this fits in Lowell enforcement
Federal and local officials say Sanchez’s case is part of broader efforts to cut down on guns and trafficking in the Merrimack Valley. Local reporting has highlighted a series of search-warrant operations in Lowell this year, including a similar raid in April that also turned up drugs and a firearm, in what authorities describe as coordinated work by Lowell police and regional task forces.
Sanchez is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 17, 2026, according to the Lowell Sun. The case is being handled by an assistant U.S. attorney in Boston, and Sanchez remains detained while he awaits sentencing.
