United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy | U.S. Department of Justice
A Brockton man, Antonio Denziah Fernandes, 23, has been sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for firearm and drug-related offenses. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani in Boston federal court.
Fernandes pleaded guilty in September 2024 to multiple charges including two counts of illegally receiving a firearm while under indictment, distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. His indictment by a federal grand jury occurred in September 2023, with additional charges filed on September 11, 2024.
Law enforcement began investigating Fernandes in late 2021 for trafficking firearms and narcotics around Brockton. In January 2022, he sold a Glock Model 48 pistol while under state indictment for fentanyl trafficking. Subsequently, Fernandes distributed approximately 100 grams of fentanyl over two transactions near his residence.
Authorities discovered that Fernandes and an accomplice were storing drugs in an abandoned van outside his home while using another vehicle for distribution. During his arrest from the latter vehicle's passenger seat, officers found a loaded firearm beside him along with cash and fentanyl.
A search of the abandoned van revealed significant quantities of drugs including fentanyl, cocaine, Percocet pills, mushrooms, ammunition, and various drug packaging materials.
The case was announced by United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy alongside James M. Ferguson from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives' Boston Field Division. The investigation received support from several district attorney offices and police departments across Massachusetts as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration and Massachusetts State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Meghan C. Cleary is prosecuting the case.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing gun violence through community collaboration with law enforcement agencies across all levels to ensure safer neighborhoods.
