Three Charged with Fentanyl Distribution

BOSTON - Three individuals, two from Lawrence and one from Methuen, were charged in connection with alleged fentanyl distribution.

Ales Mena, a/k/a "Shubill," 29 and Andy Mena 25, both of Lawrence, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Yeriel Torres Rodriguez, 27, of Methuen, was charged in a separate criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. All three defendants made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston and detention hearings have been scheduled for May 8, 2026.

According to the charging documents, Ales Mena, known as "Shubill" was identified as a high-level narcotics trafficker tied to the Trinitarios and Gangster Disciples street gangs, among others. On Oct. 27, 2025, Ales Mena allegedly traveled from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Boston, Mass., on a commercial aircraft with his girlfriend. Upon arrival at Boston Logan Airport, Ales Mena and his girlfriend were sent to a secondary inspection where agents seized cell phones belonging to Ales Mena. Upon later forensic examination of the phones, it is alleged that the phones contained conversations about narcotics trafficking. In addition, multiple photographs of what appeared to be fentanyl sent through text messaging applications were allegedly identified.

On Oct. 31, 2025, a kilogram of fentanyl sent via UPS was seized allegedly following text communication between Ales Mena and a contact in Mexico.

On three occasions from February to April of 2026, Ales Mena allegedly coordinated the sale of fentanyl through his cousin, co-defendant Andy Mena. It is alleged that Andy Mena completed two fentanyl sales, 25 grams and 100 grams, to a confidential witness. On April 23, 2026, the defendants together, allegedly travelled from Torres-Rodriguez's residence to a car wash in Methuen for a third sale, where they allegedly sold a kilogram of suspected fentanyl to a confidential witness.

Following a search of Torres-Rodriguez's residence on May 5, 2026, a concealed "hide" was discovered in an end table in the living room. It is alleged that within the compartment, partial kilo quantities of narcotics, including a vacuum sealed package of a powder that field-tested positive for cocaine, and a vacuum sealed half-brick of a grey substance marked with an "LV" stamp that field tested positive for fentanyl, were located. Also seized during the search were scales, kilo press parts and stamps to press into kilogram brings, including an "LV" and a "7" stamp.

The charge possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2,000,000. 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.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jeff Grimming, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, the Massachusetts State Police, Woburn Police Department, Methuen Police Department, the Essex County Sheriff's Office, Lawrence Police Department, Boston Police Department, Framingham Police Department, Andover Police Department, the United States Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kaitlin Brown and Phillip Mallard of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit are prosecuting the case.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations , and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (and Project Safe Neighborhood.

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