Charlestown Man Pleads Guilty To Distributing Fentanyl

CHARLESTOWN, MA – A Charlestown man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Boston to distributing fentanyl out of an apartment in Chelsea, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in Massachusetts.

Cruz Villar, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Last June, law enforcement saw Villar sell fentanyl to a customer in a parking lot in Dorchester, according to prosecutors. After the sale, agents recovered approximately 11 grams of fentanyl from the customer and approximately $1,446 in cash from Villar.

Police said during a search of an apartment in Chelsea that Villar had been renting—but not living in— they found some 87.4 additional grams of fentanyl, along with components of a drug press, a digital scale, two blenders, bottles of a cutting agent, and packaging materials, including plastic wrap and plastic baggies.

Investigators said Villar also made regular trips from the Chelsea apartment to an address in Mashpee in a manner consistent with the distribution of narcotics, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Villar faces up to 20 years in prison, up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million for the charge of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million.

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Sept. 16.

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna).