Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
A Florida resident, Wuesley Pelaez Vela, 34, from Tallahassee, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his involvement in money laundering and fentanyl distribution. The sentencing took place in Boston by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young. Following his release, Pelaez Vela will serve five years of supervised release.
Pelaez Vela pleaded guilty in May 2025 to charges including conspiracy to launder money and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute at least 400 grams of fentanyl. He was indicted along with five others by a federal grand jury in July 2022.
According to the case details, authorities began investigating a Colombia-based money laundering organization in 2019 that handled drug proceeds for several trafficking groups. Between 2020 and 2022, Pelaez Vela worked with an undercover agent to coordinate multiple collections of drug proceeds meant for Mexican suppliers as part of laundering operations. In total, he arranged for the pickup of $1,127,573 connected to drug activities.
The investigation also revealed that in October 2021, Pelaez Vela directed an undercover agent on how to purchase fentanyl, providing photos and a code phrase for ordering the pills. Two packages containing over 600 grams of fentanyl were seized during this operation.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley stated: "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." The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan from the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit.
This prosecution is part of efforts under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), created by Executive Order 14159 to combat criminal cartels and transnational organizations involved in activities such as drug trafficking and human smuggling within the United States and abroad. The HSTF brings together multiple agencies including HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS along with state and local law enforcement partners.
