A Dominican national residing unlawfully in Lawrence, Massachusetts, was arrested for allegedly planning to distribute a large quantity of fentanyl pills and reentering the United States following deportation.
Juan Alexis Rodriguez Garcia, 35, is charged with conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and unlawfully reentering the United States. He was detained after his arrest and initial appearance in a federal court in Boston.
Court documents explain that Rodriguez Garcia entered the U.S. in 2009 as a Lawful Permanent Resident in Puerto Rico. He was arrested in North Andover, Massachusetts, in 2016 for fentanyl distribution, leading to a conviction in 2018. Later that year, Rodriguez Garcia was removed from the U.S., but allegedly reentered unlawfully.
On March 30, 2025, law enforcement attempted a controlled sale of 65,000 fentanyl pills from a known drug trafficker as part of an investigation. Rodriguez Garcia was arrested on April 2, 2025, in Lawrence at a prearranged meeting location for immigration violations. A subsequent search of the residence he visited uncovered approximately 64,390 fentanyl pills packaged in a duffel bag. Rodriguez Garcia's fingerprints reportedly matched prints found on the bags containing the drugs. The pills weighed over 7.2 kilograms.
Charges for distributing over 400 grams of fentanyl carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years, with potential life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Additionally, unlawful reentry may result in up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Deportation may follow any imposed sentence.
Authorities involved include U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley, DEA's Acting Special Agent Stephen Belleau, ICE's Patricia H. Hyde, HSI's Special Agent Michael J. Krol, and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble of the Massachusetts State Police. Support came from the Hudson, New Hampshire Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kunal Pasricha is handling the prosecution.
Rodriguez Garcia is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The charges remain allegations until legal proceedings conclude.
