A Brockton man, Jose Perez, has been detained pending trial on charges related to drug offenses. Perez, aged 47, faces a criminal complaint for attempted possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. He was apprehended on June 11, 2025, and following a detention hearing in Boston federal court, he was ordered to remain in custody until his trial.
Court documents reveal that in May 2025, Perez engaged in discussions with undercover law enforcement about purchasing 15 kilograms of cocaine. The transaction was allegedly set for June 11, 2025, in Framingham. On the day of the meeting, Perez reportedly traveled from his home in Brockton to his autobody shop in Dorchester before heading back home and then proceeding to meet the undercover officers.
Upon arrival at the designated location, it is alleged that Perez retrieved $150,000 from a concealed compartment within his vehicle and exchanged it with undercover agents for what he believed were 15 kilograms of cocaine. The substance provided was sham cocaine. After placing the fake narcotics into his vehicle’s hidden compartment, Perez was taken into custody.
The charge against Perez carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and could extend up to life imprisonment. It also includes at least five years of supervised release and a potential fine reaching $10 million. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The announcement regarding this case came from United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division. Assistance was rendered by several law enforcement agencies including the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation unit and multiple local police departments across Massachusetts.
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane from the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is handling prosecution duties for this case.
This investigation forms part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and dismantling cartels as well as transnational criminal organizations (TCOs). The operation consolidates resources from various Department of Justice programs such as Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
It is important to note that all details contained within charging documents are allegations at this stage; Perez remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt in court.
