BOSTON — Aaron Lenardis, 38, of Saugus, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Leo T. Sorokin to 15 years in prison with five years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Lenardis was sentenced for drug conspiracy involving tens of thousands of counterfeit pills and a firearm offense. The pills contained both methamphetamine and fentanyl.
In November 2024, Lenardis was convicted by a federal jury for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. There was also one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. He was indicted in February 2023 along with his co-conspirator Charles Bates.
Bates had traveled to Pawtucket, R.I., to obtain a new pill press after his broke. Upon arriving back in Massachusetts, the two were witnessed carrying the new press into Lenardis’s house in Saugus.
Police searched Lenardis’ residence in October of 2022 seizing an industrial pill press, 14 firearms, including a Glock that could operate as a machine gun, at least 1.85 kilograms of pills, powder containing methamphetamine, at least 87.6 grams of pills and powder containing fentanyl and “M30” stamps that are used to manufacture counterfeit pills.
Bates was sentenced to 10 years in prison with 5 years of supervised release.
