Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Massachusetts
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Defendant on probation for aggravated assault and kidnapping at time of offense
BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty today to his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl throughout southeastern Massachusetts.
Filomeno Monteiro, 31, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of distribution of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Oct. 28, 2021.
According to court records, in 2019 and 2020, law enforcement conducted an investigation into fentanyl traffickers operating in southeastern Massachusetts. In December 2019, Monteiro worked with co-defendant Christian Collins to distribute 20 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness and undercover police officer at a location in Plympton. At the time of the offense, Monteiro was on probation for a prior Plymouth Superior Court conviction for kidnapping and aggravated assault and battery. Monteiro was previously convicted twice in state court of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and heroin and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Collins pleaded guilty on June 23, 2021 and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 28, 2021.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, up to six years of supervised release and a fine of up to $2 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Matthew B. Millhollin, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes; East Bridgewater Police Chief Paul O’Brien; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.