Man sentenced to prison for role in trafficking drugs from Mexico, through California, to Massachusetts and into New England

BOSTON – A Mexican man, and member of a Tijuana-based Sinaloa Cartel cell, was sentenced for his role in a cocaine and money laundering conspiracy.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Justice, “Eber Alain Estrada Palafox, also known as “Doctor,” 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs to 63 months in prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. The defendant is subject to deportation upon completion of the imposed sentence. In June 2025, Palafox pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. 

“Palafox conspired with a ring of Massachusetts-based individuals to traffic cocaine and heroin from Mexico, through California, to Massachusetts and into New England over a two-year period. Palafox and his co-conspirators also conspired to import at least one kilogram of heroin (which was later determined to be pure fentanyl) from sources in Mexico. Palafox also admitted to conspiring to use a co-conspirator’s auto dealership, State Line Auto Sales, LLC, in Enfield, Conn., to commit money laundering by wiring drug proceeds to his mother in Mexico.”

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Thomas Demeo, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations in Boston made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Caroline Merck of the Springfield Office prosecuted the case.