Dominican National and Former Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing Almost 700 Grams of Fentanyl

Dominican National and Former Massachusetts Resident Pleads Guilty to Distributing Almost 700 Grams of Fentanyl

CONCORD - A citizen of the Dominican Republic and former Boston resident pleaded guilty today to distributing almost 700 grams of fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announces.

Niulmi Baez, 26, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically, at least 400 grams of fentanyl. U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for August 3, 2026.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in late 2021 law enforcement learned that the defendant was selling drugs. Between November 2021 and June 2022, an undercover officer engaged in a series of controlled purchases of drugs from Baez. Sometimes Baez delivered the drugs in person, while other times he used a drug runner, including his co-defendant Hamet Badia, to sell drugs. For example, in June 2022, the undercover officer arranged to purchase 400 grams of fentanyl and 200 oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl from Baez. Baez responded that his "brother" would arrive in an Uber rideshare, and that Baez himself would arrive a few minutes later. Badia arrived at the designated meeting spot carrying a green shoe box containing the drugs. Badia gave the drugs to Baez, who exchanged the drugs for a bag containing fake U.S. currency.

Baez left the United States and returned to the Dominican Republic. Law enforcement learned he planned to return to the United States and arrested him at Logan Airport on October 2, 2025. Baez has been detained since.

The charging statute provides a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life, a term of supervised release of at least 5 years and up to life, and a maximum fine of $10 million. 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.

Badia was previously sentenced to a term of 18 months' imprisonment for his role in the offense.

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. The U.S. Marshals and Hampton Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).