BOSTON — A Salem man pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday in connection with a conspiracy to distribute more than four kilograms of fentanyl.
Jose Esmerlin Diaz, 36, was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Diaz was arrested in January and charged with co-defendant, Manuel E. Tejeda, who previously pleaded not guilty.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, on January 17, Diaz delivered an estimated 13,770 fentanyl pills — or approximately 1.6 kilograms — disguised as Percocet to a cooperating source at a price of $6 per pill.
Shortly after, Tejeda and another man arrived nearby to deliver additional pills, and were found in possession of 29,742 pills — or approximately 3 kilograms — similar in appearance and packaging to the pills delivered by Diaz, the press release said.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.
Sentencing for Diaz is scheduled for Sept. 9.
