Dominican National Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl

BOSTON - A Dominican national, who unlawfully resided in Lawrence under a false name, was sentenced on Oct. 8, 2025 in federal court in Boston for conspiring to possess and distribute controlled substances.

Eduardo Morales-Perez, a/k/a "Yenni Rafael Guerrero Aybar," 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to 27 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In September 2025, Morales-Perez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances.

In March 2018, law enforcement arranged an undercover cash pickup as part of a money laundering investigation. An individual arrived at the pre-arranged meeting location for the controlled purchase and provided $275,090 in cash to undercover law enforcement. That individual was driving a white Volvo registered to Morales-Perez's girlfriend.

Following the transaction, the white Volvo was observed at a property in Peabody. Morales-Perez was observed exiting a truck with a can of acetone - a chemical commonly used in the illicit manufacturing process of fentanyl analogues - and carrying it into the Peabody residence. A subsequent search of the Peabody property in May 2018 resulted in the recovery of one kilo pill press; drug distribution paraphernalia; over 2.8 kilograms of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues; over five kilograms of ANPP (a controlled substance that is frequently used in the manufacturing process of fentanyl); and $130,000. The drugs and cash were located in a hidden compartment above a light fixture.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Medford, Peabody and Ipswich Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren A. Graber and Brian J. Sullivan of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.