Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Brockton resident, Jose Perez, 47, has been detained pending trial in Boston's federal court on drug-related charges. Perez faces a criminal complaint for one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. His arrest occurred on June 11, 2025, followed by an initial appearance and detention hearing where the court decided to hold him until trial.
Court documents indicate that in May 2025, Perez communicated with undercover law enforcement regarding the purchase of 15 kilograms of cocaine. He allegedly agreed to meet for the transaction on June 11 in Framingham. On that day, Perez was reportedly seen traveling from his home in Brockton to his autobody shop in Dorchester before heading back to Brockton and then proceeding to Framingham for the meeting.
Upon arrival at the meeting location, it is alleged that Perez retrieved $150,000 from a hidden compartment in his vehicle and exchanged it with undercover officers for what he believed were 15 kilograms of cocaine. The substance provided was sham cocaine. After placing the sham cocaine into his vehicle's hidden compartment, Perez was taken into custody.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and can extend up to life imprisonment. It also includes at least five years of supervised release and a potential fine reaching $10 million. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The announcement came from United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Field Division. The investigation received support from several agencies including the Internal Revenue Service, Massachusetts State Police, and multiple local police departments across Massachusetts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane from the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is handling prosecution duties for this case.
This case forms part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at eliminating illegal immigration impacts and dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations while safeguarding communities against violent crime perpetrators.
The allegations within charging documents are yet unproven claims; hence Perez remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
