A Mexican national, Jesus Lopez Medina, was sentenced to five years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper for his involvement in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and launder the proceeds. The 33-year-old, who had been deported twice from the United States, will face deportation again after serving his sentence. In December 2024, Lopez Medina admitted guilt to charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The investigation began in August 2023 into a drug-trafficking organization based in Mexico that transported narcotics from Ontario, California, to Massachusetts using tractor trailers. During the operation, law enforcement communicated with coconspirator Reginal Cazares in Arizona. In December 2023, Cazares allegedly instructed law enforcement to deliver drug money to Lopez Medina in California. An undercover officer handed over $202,090 from coconspirators in Massachusetts to Lopez Medina on December 4, 2023. Later, on February 16, 2024, Lopez Medina delivered four kilograms of fentanyl and nine kilograms of cocaine to a cooperating witness in Ontario.
Cazares and two other co-defendants have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Boston Field Division, announced the sentencing. The DEA offices in Riverside and Bakersfield (California), Tucson (Arizona), San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (California), Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team (California), Methuen Police Department (Massachusetts), and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement provided assistance.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative aimed at dismantling significant drug traffickers through multi-agency collaboration.
All details contained within the charging documents remain allegations until proven otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt.
