United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy | U.S. Department of Justice
A New York City resident, Cesar Nunez Lopez, has been apprehended and charged with distributing fentanyl in the Boston area. Lopez, aged 42, faces three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. He was arrested on December 13, 2024, and subsequently agreed to voluntary detention following his initial court appearance in Boston.
According to the charging documents, Lopez was identified as a trafficker in November 2024. On November 15, he allegedly distributed 99.4 grams of fentanyl in a supermarket parking lot within the greater Boston area. It is further alleged that on November 25, Lopez distributed around 500 grams of suspected fentanyl at a Watertown store parking lot.
On December 13, authorities claim Lopez traveled from New York to Watertown where he distributed approximately 2.5 kilograms of fentanyl inside a shopping bag.
The charges against Lopez carry potential penalties including up to 20 years in prison, supervised release ranging from three years to life, and fines up to $1 million. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes.
The announcement of the arrest was made by United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge at the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Field Office. The investigation received support from the Watertown and Waltham Police Departments and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve Hassink of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit.
This case is part of an investigation led by members of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Boston Strike Force which aims to dismantle high-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led approach supported by intelligence from multiple agencies.
It is important to note that all details contained in the charging documents are allegations; Lopez is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
