BOSTON - A Southbridge man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Worcester to possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute.
Hector Espola, 30, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman, who scheduled sentencing for Oct. 13, 2017.
On two occasions in July and August 2016, Espola sold 300 oxycodone pills to an individual cooperating with investigators. Espola was arrested on Feb. 17, 2017, in Massachusetts on a federal arrest warrant as he returned from New York City. Upon his arrest, agents found Espola in possession of 300 oxycodone pills.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute oxycodone provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Southbridge Police Chief Shane Woodson, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg A. Friedholm of Weinreb’s Worcester Branch Office.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
