BOSTON - A member of a Brockton drug crew pleaded guilty yesterday to fentanyl distribution and firearm charges.
Jason Miranda, 27, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, three counts of distribution of fentanyl and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns scheduled sentencing for Jan. 18, 2023. Jason Miranda was indicted along with three alleged co-conspirators in November 2019.
According to court documents, law enforcement began investigating a violent Brockton-area drug crew that distributed large quantities of fentanyl throughout southeastern Massachusetts. The drug crew ran a fentanyl delivery service that encompassed all of Brockton as well as neighboring cities. Specifically, it is alleged that drug users/customers placed orders for fentanyl by contacting a cellphone maintained and shared by crew members, which included Jason Miranda, his brother Natalio Miranda, Placido Pereira and Djoy Defrancesco, who worked together to deliver the fentanyl order. Beginning in September 2019, agents succeeded in using an undercover law enforcement officer to make six purchases of fentanyl from members of the crew.
On Oct. 16, 2019, a search was conducted at an address in Taunton where Jason Miranda had been staying. Agents seized a black Glock.40 caliber semiautomatic pistol with a defaced serial number; two different ammunition clips containing 9 millimeter ammunition; a money counter; a safe containing $28,000 in cash; and a painting of Miranda holding up a large stack of cash.
Because of Miranda’s criminal record, the charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl provides for up to 30 years in prison, at least six years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Rollins; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Brenda Perez; Douglas Bartlett, Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz made the announcement. Assistance was provided by the East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater, Whitman and Bridgewater State University Police Departments as well as the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Rollins’ Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
