New York Man Sentenced for Controlled Substance Offense

BOSTON – A Bronx, N.Y. man was sentenced today in connection with his role in a conspiracy to distribute a fentanyl in 2019.

Jason Jimenez, 27, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge Rya W. Zobel to one year and one day in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 4, 2021, Jimenez pleaded guilty to one count of use of a communication facility to commit a felony under the controlled substances act.

On July 10, 2019, Jimenez was arrested after making admissions to investigators in connection with a fentanyl transaction which he facilitated using his phone. He was indicted in August 2019 as part of a coordinated enforcement operation in the Merrimack Valley dubbed “Operation Devil’s Highway.” The operation targeted the distribution of opioids, including fentanyl and heroin, and resulted in charges against a total of 40 people for federal drug offenses, with at least a dozen more individuals facing state charges.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell and Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department and North Andover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Moran and Evan Panich of Mendell’s Office prosecuted the case.