United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON – A Lawrence, Massachusetts, man was arrested yesterday on fentanyl distribution charges.

Rafael Sierra-Baez, 42, was charged with five counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Following an initial appearance yesterday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Marianne B. Bowler, Sierra-Baez was detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for May 25, 2022.

According to the charging documents, on five separate occasions between Feb. 22, 2022 and May 4, 2022, Sierra-Baez sold suspected fentanyl to a law enforcement cooperating witness in Methuen, Massachusetts.

“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue and bring to justice anyone who distributes this poison,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “This sentence not only holds Sierra-Baez accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”

The charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division and U.S. Attorney Rachael S. Rollins jointly made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell’Anno of Rollins’ Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.