Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Two Massachusetts residents, Elmidio Crisostomo of Lynnfield and David Depena of Lynn, have pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy charges related to the manufacturing and distribution of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances. The pleas were entered before U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns, who set sentencing for December 10, 2025.
The two men admitted to using an apartment in Lynn as a site for producing counterfeit pills. According to authorities, they distributed thousands of these pills to customers in several towns, including Malden and Revere. Law enforcement recovered a hand-crank-style pill press and multiple kilograms of pills and powder containing fentanyl during a search of the apartment in June 2023.
Crisostomo and Depena were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023. Each faces up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and fines up to $1 million if convicted on the conspiracy charge. Sentencing will be determined according to federal guidelines.
"United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lynn Police Department and the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case."
