A Lawrence man has been sentenced to over three years in prison for distributing fentanyl, as announced by authorities in a federal court in Boston. George Jimenez, 31, received a 41-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release. His sentence was handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns. Jimenez had pleaded guilty in October 2024 to charges of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, after initially being charged in October 2023.
The case against Jimenez involved an undercover operation where he sold 99 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness in Methuen on September 27, 2022. This transaction, which took place between two buildings, was recorded on video. Jimenez was seen making a hand-to-hand exchange, selling the drugs for $1,500.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Field Office, announced the sentencing. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng from the Organized Crime and Gang Unit prosecuted the case.
This case falls under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a collaborative effort of law enforcement to reduce violence and enhance community safety. Launched by the Department in May 2021, the program aims to foster trust, support violence prevention organizations, prioritize strategic enforcement, and measure results. Those interested in the program can find more information at Justice.gov/PSN.
Additionally, the operation was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative. This initiative involves multi-agency task force teams working together to target significant drug traffickers and criminal organizations. More details about the OCDETF Program are available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
