Leah B. Foley United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts | Department of Justice
Carlos Perez, a 40-year-old man from Fall River, pleaded guilty on Apr. 9 in federal court in Boston to multiple counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as distributing cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled his sentencing for July 14.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address gun violence and drug distribution by individuals with prior convictions.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Perez was arrested and charged in November 2025 following several incidents earlier that year. On May 5, Perez sold cocaine along with a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a cooperating witness. He later sold additional firearms and ammunition on three separate occasions between June and August of the same year.
Perez is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his criminal record, which includes more than fifteen convictions among sixty-one adult charges. These include a conviction for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance in 2015—resulting in two years served—and two assault convictions involving dangerous weapons from 2008.
The charge of being a felon in possession of firearms carries up to fifteen years imprisonment, while distributing controlled substances can result in up to twenty years behind bars and fines reaching $1 million. Sentencing will be determined according to federal guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said the investigation received support from the Massachusetts State Police as well as Fall River and New Bedford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime through coordinated efforts across various Department of Justice programs.
