Federal prosecutors say an FBI-led undercover operation in Lowell ended with a street dealer caught carrying more than two ounces of crack and now facing serious federal time. Gino Hem, 34, of Lowell, pleaded guilty this week in federal court in Boston to multiple counts of distributing fentanyl and crack cocaine after a series of monitored drug deals. Prosecutors say Hem sold drugs to cooperating witnesses and an undercover officer on several dates between July and October 2025 and was arrested in October after agents say they recovered more than two ounces of cocaine base on his person. He remains in federal custody and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 30, 2026.
Undercover Buys Lead To Federal Case
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts, Hem admitted to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl.
The office says the transactions took place in Lowell between July and October 2025. Hem was arrested on Oct. 22, 2025, after an undercover officer arranged to buy two ounces of "hard." Agents say they found more than 53 grams of cocaine base hidden on his person at the time.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak III is prosecuting the case, according to the release, which notes the announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley and the special agent in charge of FBI Boston.
Court Papers Detail Repeated Buys, Pringles Stash
Court filings described in the Lowell Sun outline four earlier controlled buys between July 14 and Oct. 3, 2025. In those deals, Hem allegedly sold fentanyl "fingers" and quantities of crack to cooperating witnesses and an undercover officer.
The Sun reports those filings describe sales that ranged from about 10 grams of fentanyl for $500, to an Aug. 15 deal involving two fentanyl "fingers" and an ounce of crack for $2,300, to a Sept. 10 delivery that stood out for its packaging: roughly 9.4 grams of fentanyl and 54.9 grams of crack tucked inside a Pringles can for $3,200.
According to that reporting, prosecutors relied on those controlled buys along with the Oct. 22 arrest as the backbone of the federal plea.
What Hem Faces At Sentencing
Federal statutes expose Hem to steep penalties. Counts involving 28 grams or more of cocaine base carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, while the fentanyl distribution counts each carry potential penalties of up to 20 years, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The office notes that a federal judge will ultimately decide Hem's sentence using the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Hem remains detained as the case moves toward the September hearing.
Local Impact In A Fentanyl Hotspot
Prosecutors and public health officials say cases that pull fentanyl out of the local supply are not just about court wins, they are about survival. Fentanyl is a leading driver of overdose harm when it contaminates or replaces other drugs.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has reported that opioid-related overdose deaths have been trending down, even as fentanyl remains widespread in the state's drug supply. That backdrop is what federal and local authorities frequently point to when they highlight the public safety stakes of undercover operations and large-scale seizures like the one in Hem's case.
