United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON – A Holyoke man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Springfield in connection with drug and firearm offenses.

Jonathan Mercedes, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams of more of fentanyl; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and one count of possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking felonies. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled for Nov. 16, 2023. Mercedes was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2022.

On April 7, 2022, Mercedes possessed with intent to distribute 60 grams of fentanyl laced heroin and 59 grams of cocaine. Mercedes also possessed a Ruger .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun loaded with nine rounds of .22 caliber ammunition and a Smith and Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun loaded with 11 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 40 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $2 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. The charge of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; and Holyoke Police Chief David Pratt made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of the Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.