BOSTON – A Dominican national unlawfully residing at a Massachusetts migrant shelter has pled guilty in federal court in Boston to possessing over 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl with an estimated street value of over $1 million dollars, and an assault rifle.
According to the Department of Justice, 30-year-old Leonardo Andujar Sanchez pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for January 7th, 2027. Andujar Sanchez was arrested and charged in January 2025 and later indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2026.
Andujar Sanchez was residing in the Quality Inn in Revere. On Dec. 27, 2024, during a search of the room Andujar Sanchez was residing in, over 4.5 kilograms of fentanyl, an AR-style assault rifle, ammunition, three rifle magazines, digital scales and an abundance of latex gloves were located. Andujar Sanchez was immediately taken into state custody.
“This individual endangered occupants of the hotel, on-site workers, public safety personnel and the community at large” stated Revere Police Chief David Callahan. “His arrest underscores our commitment to work tirelessly to protect our community from those dealing deadly Fentanyl and possessing illegal firearms.”
During a Spanish-language interview in late 2024, ERO officers determined that Andujar unlawfully entered the U.S. on an unknown date at an unknown location sometime within the year.
ERO Boston lodged an immigration detainer against him immediately following his arrest.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. The charge of unlawful possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. The defendant is subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of any sentence imposed. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
United States Attorney Leah Foley; Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the Revere Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brian Sullivan and Brad Rocheville of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.
