A man from Tucson, Arizona, has pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston for his involvement in distributing large quantities of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as laundering the proceeds from these activities.
Reginel Cazares, also known as “Junior,” age 37, admitted to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances—specifically more than 400 grams of fentanyl and over five kilograms of cocaine—and to money laundering conspiracy. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Denise J. Casper set sentencing for May 6, 2026. Cazares was indicted on June 13, 2024.
Court filings state that in August 2023 a cooperating witness informed law enforcement about an individual called “Junior,” later identified as Cazares, who coordinated multi-kilogram shipments of fentanyl and cocaine from California to Massachusetts using tractor trailers. In November and December 2023, at Cazares’ direction, the cooperating witness collected approximately $600,000 in drug proceeds from two co-defendants in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. On February 16, 2024, Cazares instructed the witness to pick up four kilograms of fentanyl and nine kilograms of cocaine in Ontario, California; these narcotics were intended for delivery to Massachusetts and the Carolinas but were intercepted by law enforcement.
Cazares has a prior conviction for cocaine conspiracy from the District of New Jersey in 2012 and served a sentence of 57 months.
The charge involving distribution or possession with intent to distribute controlled substances carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment, supervised release ranging from five years up to life, and fines up to $10 million. The money laundering conspiracy charge carries a potential penalty of up to twenty years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and fines reaching $500,000 or twice the value involved—whichever is greater. Sentencing will be determined according to federal guidelines.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea along with Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division. Several agencies assisted with the investigation including DEA offices in Riverside (California), Bakersfield (California), Tucson (Arizona), San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department (California), Inland Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team; Methuen Police Department; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Enforcement and Removal Operations; among others. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel R. Feldman is prosecuting.
This case falls under the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative created by Executive Order 14159: Protecting the American People Against Invasion—a collaborative effort among multiple federal agencies targeting criminal cartels and transnational organizations operating within the United States.
“The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”