Bronx man sentenced to 30 months for distributing fentanyl in Worcester

A Bronx man has been sentenced to more than two years in prison for his role in distributing fentanyl in the Worcester area. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 32-year-old Jose Luis Lopez Genao pleaded guilty in June 2024 to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl following his arrest in December 2022.

Genao, a resident of the Bronx, NY, was arrested after transporting approximately one kilogram of fentanyl from New York to Worcester. He allegedly delivered the narcotics directly to a government witness, resulting in his arrest on December 8, 2022. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni sentenced him to 30 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release.

The investigation, which identified Genao and others as players in a network that received and distributed large quantities of fentanyl within New England, was the result of a joint multi-agency effort. Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy noted the arrest and the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; Massachusetts State Police; and local police departments, among others. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches of the Springfield Branch Unit.

This case is part of a larger Strike Force Initiative by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF). According to the Department of Justice website, OCDETF aims to establish a joint, multi-agency strategy to address drug trafficking, money laundering and transnational criminal organizations that threaten national security. This task force model brings together agents from different agencies to share information and develop strategies for dismantling major criminal enterprises.