Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Mexican national was sentenced in Boston for his involvement in a drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy connected to the Sinaloa Cartel. Eber Alain Estrada Palafox, also known as “Doctor,” received a 63-month prison sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs, followed by two years of supervised release. Upon completion of his sentence, Palafox will be subject to deportation.
Palafox, 39, pleaded guilty in June 2025 to charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to distribute heroin, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Authorities stated that he worked with individuals based in Massachusetts to move cocaine and heroin from Mexico through California into New England over a two-year period.
According to court documents, Palafox and his associates also attempted to import at least one kilogram of heroin from Mexico. The substance was later identified as pure fentanyl. In addition, Palafox admitted to conspiring with others to use State Line Auto Sales, LLC—a car dealership in Enfield, Connecticut—to launder drug proceeds by wiring funds to his mother in Mexico.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office prosecuted the case.”
