Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A Braintree resident has admitted guilt in a federal court in Boston to charges related to fentanyl distribution. Jonathan Melendez Decatro, also known as "Jacha," aged 32, confessed to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV of the U.S. District Court has set sentencing for May 12, 2025. As part of a plea agreement submitted in court, Melendez Decatro is expected to receive a sentence of ten years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. He was initially indicted in June 2023.
The investigation into Melendez Decatro's activities began in 2019, identifying him as the leader of a significant drug trafficking organization operating around Brockton. This organization allegedly sourced drugs from Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. In 2021, law enforcement intercepted packages meant for Melendez Decatro containing cocaine on two occasions. Further conspiracies were uncovered in spring 2023 involving the distribution of 1.5 kilograms of fentanyl with an individual based in the Dominican Republic intended for another person in Braintree. The seized fentanyl was found to have over 50% purity and contained xylazine. During a search at his residence, authorities recovered over $10,000 believed to be drug proceeds and clothing linked to fentanyl transactions.
The charge against Melendez Decatro could result in a minimum sentence of ten years and up to life imprisonment, along with supervised release ranging from five years to life and fines reaching $10 million.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Michael J. Krol from Homeland Security Investigations; Jodi Cohen from the FBI Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau from the Drug Enforcement Administration announced these developments today. The operation received support from several agencies including the DEA in Bogota, United States Postal Inspection Service, Massachusetts State Police, and Brockton Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey E. Weinstein is leading the prosecution.
This case forms part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative that promotes collaboration among multi-agency teams situated together for intelligence-driven operations targeting high-level criminal organizations across jurisdictions.
