A pair of Worcester residents have pleaded guilty to taking part in a drug-dealing operation in which they sold highly-powerful fentanyl disguised as prescription pills, officials said.
With jury selection set to begin last week in their scheduled trial, both Cintia Franco, 34, and Amauris Antonio Rosario Garcia, 39, pleaded guilty to multiple fentanyl and heroin distribution charges in a federal court in Boston, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The pair was charged in October 2019 along with two others who already pleaded guilty to drug charges — John Robles and Jector Torres.
Investigators said they identified Robles in early 2019 selling oxycodone pills out of Albino’s Market in Worcester. In reality, according to U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, the pills were counterfeits containing fentanyl.
Intercepted phone communications from Robles pointed to Garcia — also known as “Animal,” per the U.S. attorney — as a supplier for him and Torres. Officials said they also learned that Garcia and Franco were selling heroin, fentanyl pills and powdered fentanyl to Worcester residents.
“The defendants engaged in a conspiracy to distribute deadly drugs, many of which disguised as pharmaceutical-grade prescription pills, into the Worcester community and profit off of people’s pain and suffering,” said Rollins, who called prosecuting opioid trafficking a priority for her office.
“The opioid epidemic is still raging. Every day, fentanyl takes countless lives and causes irreversible destruction and harm in our communities across the Commonwealth and the country. Drug traffickers will be prosecuted and removed from our communities,” she added.
U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Hillman scheduled sentencing for Garcia and Franco for Oct. 19. Robles and Torres are respectively scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 27 and Oct. 17, officials said.
