The New Yorkers were arraigned Monday on serious drug drug charges after being caught in Eastie selling a large quantity of fentanyl to undercover agents. The amount of fentanyl seized had the potential to kill tens of thousands of people.
Sergio Singer Galicia, 39, and Bryan Roberto Rodriguez, 38, both of New York, were charged in the East Boston Division of Boston on charges of trafficking in more than 200 grams of fentanyl.
Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office, along with State and Boston Police narcotics officers and federal Homeland Security officers, arranged an undercover operation to purchase the drugs from Galicia and Rodriguez.
On Friday morning a deal was confirmed to take place at 945 Saratoga Street in East Boston. Galicia and Rodriguez were under surveillance from officers deployed in the area and by the State Police airwing.
When the transaction took place, Galicia and Rodriguez were arrested without incident.
As part of the undercover operation police seized two kilograms of fentanyl with an estimated wholesale street value of $90,000.
Massachusetts public health officials this week pointed to fentanyl as a primary factor in the 8.8-percent increase in opioid overdose deaths in the state last year. Deaths rose to 2,290, an all-time high.
According to the DEA two milligrams of fentanyl will kill an adult. One kilogram of fentanyl is equivalent to 1 million milligrams. The amount seized could potentially kill over 300,000 adults.
“This quantity of fentanyl hitting the streets would have undoubtedly contributed to the unprecedented number of overdoses and deaths we’re seeing across the state. This was a careful, efficient operation that interdicted a significant quantity of one of the deadliest drugs in our society,” Hayden said.
The charging statute provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.