Four Charged with Trafficking Narcotics into Massachusetts from Puerto Rico and California through the Mail

BOSTON - Four individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston in connection with a conspiracy to distribute multiple kilograms of fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.

The following defendants have been indicted with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances:

1. Alexander Pineda Nunez, 32, residing in Methuen, Mass.;
2. Angel Luis Cedeno Moni, 31, unlawfully residing in Lawrence, Mass.;
3. Raymond Cedeno Calderon, 3, residing in Clifton, N.J.; and
4. Adrian Pena Rodriguez, 23, unlawfully residing in Haverhill, Mass.

Pena is also charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Pineda, Moni and Pena were arrested and made their initial appearance in Boston on April 7, 2026. They remain in custody pending detention hearings. Calderon is currently in custody in Tennessee and will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

According to the charging documents, Pineda and Moni led a drug trafficking organization (DTO) that imported kilogram quantities of drugs to Massachusetts through the U.S. mail and other carriers. For example, Pineda, Moni, Pena and others allegedly arranged for kilogram quantities of cocaine to be mailed from Puerto Rico to various residential addresses in northeastern Massachusetts. Pineda and his co-conspirators would allegedly track the drug-laden packages and take them from the delivery address shortly after delivery, often at multiple locations on the same day. It is alleged that multiple packages mailed from Puerto Rico to the DTO in Massachusetts were seized-including one that was seized directly from Pena-and found to contain multiple kilograms of cocaine

It is further alleged that Pineda and Moni also travelled to Arizona and California to send packages of fentanyl and methamphetamine back to Massachusetts through the U.S. Mail. In August and September 2025, six packages that had allegedly been sent from California by Moni and Pineda were seized and found to contain multiple kilograms of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, at least five years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $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.

United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Ted. E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; Jason Buckley, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Boston Division; Jeff Grimming, Acting, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England; and Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Watertown Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Dell'Anno of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case was investigated and prosecuted by the Boston Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) as part of Operation Take Back America. HSTFs, which were established by President Trump in Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, are joint operations led by the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Operation Take Back America is a nationwide federal 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).

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.