United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON –Two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly conspiring to distribute fentanyl in Worcester County. 

Richard Molina-Ovalle, 36, of Worcester and Jose Molina-Ovalle, 27, a Dominican national unlawfully residing in Worcester, were charged in an indictment with conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and related charges. Jose Molina-Ovalle was also charged with being an Alien in Possession of Firearms and Illegal reentry of an Alien among other offenses. 

Richard Molina-Ovalle was previously arrested and charged in September 2026 and was released on conditions. He is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court in Boston on Oct. 13, 2026. Jose Molina-Ovalle was arrested in the Bahamas on Sept. 24, 2026.

According to the charging documents, on Sept. 10, 2026, Richard Molina-Ovalle was observed outside of an alleged co-conspirator’s residence in Leominster, with more than 400 grams of fentanyl in his vehicle. Approximately 31 grams of fentanyl, in addition to drug packaging materials were allegedly seized from Richard Molina-Ovalle’s apartment in Worcester during a subsequent search.  

Jose Molina-Ovalle allegedly served as Richard Molina-Ovalle’s drug supplier. It is further alleged that a search of Jose Molina-Ovalle’s residence in Worcester resulted in the recovery of approximately 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, cutting agents, a large amount of U.S. currency, scales, blenders and drug packaging materials. Numerous firearms were also allegedly seized from Jose Molina-Ovalle’s residence, including: a Glock 21 .45 caliber pistol; a Glock 27 .40 caliber pistol; a Smith and Wesson .380 caliber pistol; a 12-gauge shotgun; and an Anderson Arms AR-15 rifle.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of no less than 10 years in prison and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. 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.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Demeo, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office; Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Thomas A. Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Leominster, Fitchburg, Clinton, Worcester, Gardner, Lunenberg, Webster, Holden and the Millbury Police Departments; the Massachusetts National Guard; and the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Stendig of the Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Boston is comprised of agents and officers from HSI, FBI, DEA, ATF, USMS, IRS-CI, USPIS, DOL-OIG and DSS, as well as several state and local law enforcement agencies, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts.

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