NORTH

8 from Fitchburg, Gardner charged in drug ring

Steven H. Foskett Jr.
steven.foskett@telegram.com

Eight people from the Fitchburg and Gardner area have been charged with participation in a wide-ranging fentanyl, heroin and cocaine trafficking conspiracy, the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling announced Thursday.

Pedro Baez, 50, Anthony Baez, 31, Amanda Ford, 33, Monica Troche, 27, Branny Taveras, 37, of  Shastaalena Blair, 39, and Valerie Lucier, 30, all of Fitchburg, and Jessica Hughes 28, of Gardner were charged in an indictment unsealed Thursday with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine and cocaine base. Anthony Baez and Troche were also each indicted on various drug possession and distribution charges.

Hughes, who is currently incarcerated on state charges, will be transferred to federal custody. The remaining defendants were arrested Thursday morning, the U.S. attorney's office said.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, or cocaine base provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. The other drug trafficking charges provide for a sentencing range of five years to a lifetime in prison, at least four years of supervised release and a fine of between $5 million to $10 million. Due to a previous conviction of a qualifying drug trafficking offense, Pedro Baez faces an enhanced mandatory minimum sentence, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Alathea Porter of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.