Lowell man sentenced to nearly seven years in prison for drug distribution and gun charges (DOJ)

Defendant has multiple prior state felony convictions

BOSTON - A previously convicted felon from Lowell was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for distributing cocaine base (crack cocaine) and illegally possessing two firearms.

Marc Sanchez, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick to 81 months in prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. In June 2026 , Sanchez pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base and to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sanchez was arrested and charged in October 2025 and has remained in federal custody since.

Sanchez was identified as a drug distributor selling crack cocaine out of his apartment in Lowell. Specifically, on Sept. 17, 2025, a cooperating witness arranged to meet Sanchez at his apartment to purchase an ounce and a half of crack cocaine. At the time of the meeting, Sanchez was observed meeting with an unknown drug supplier in a car outside his apartment building to acquire powder cocaine. Sanchez then returned to his apartment with the cooperating witness, where Sanchez "cooked" the powder cocaine into crack cocaine, separated and weighed the substance, and then sold it to the cooperating witness. In addition, Sanchez used phone numbers and cars registered in other people's names to deal crack cocaine.

On Sept. 25, 2025, Sanchez again produced and distributed an ounce-and-a-half of crack cocaine to the cooperating witness at this apartment. During a search of Sanchez's apartment approximately one week later, on Oct. 1, 2025, more cocaine, drug-coated cookware and drug packaging materials were recovered as well as over $3,000 cash and two loaded 9mm handguns from inside a safe.

According to court documents, there were at least four outstanding arrest warrants for Sanchez in connection with open criminal cases in Derry District Court in New Hampshire and in Boston, Lawrence and Lowell District Courts in Massachusetts. Sanchez has multiple felony convictions and he served over two years in a Massachusetts state prison in 2018 and 2019.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division; and Greg C. Hudon, Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Billerica, Haverhill, Methuen, North Andover, Salem (Mass.) and Manchester (N.H.) Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred M. Wyshak, III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide 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.

Updated September 18, 2026