A Dominican national living in Lawrence without legal status pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to fentanyl distribution. Hector Santana Guzman, also known as “DJ Black,” admitted to two counts of distributing and possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute. The plea was entered before United States District Judge Patti B. Saris, who set sentencing for December 10, 2025.
Authorities say Santana Guzman sold approximately 50 grams of powder fentanyl on June 6, 2024, and about 70 grams on June 25, 2024. Both transactions were made to a cooperating witness during an investigation into the transnational criminal organization known as the 18th Street Gang.
The charge carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine that can reach $1 million. Sentencing decisions will be based on federal guidelines and statutes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division; and Bryan DiGirolamo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The Massachusetts State Police; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations; district attorney’s offices from Suffolk and Middlesex counties; and police departments from Boston, Chelsea, Everett, Falmouth, Lynn, Medford, Nantucket, and Revere assisted with the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak from the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is handling prosecution.
The case is part of an operation under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which works to disrupt major criminal organizations through coordinated efforts across agencies led by prosecutors using intelligence-driven strategies. More information about OCDETF is available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
