WORCESTER – The 18th and final defendant of a Fitchburg-based drug trafficking organization was sentenced in federal court in Worcester on Thursday.
Pedro Baez, 54, who prosecutors say was the leader of a Fitchburg-based drug trafficking organization (DTO), received a sentence of 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release. Baez pleaded guilty in February 2021 to charges related to the trafficking of several drugs, including heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.
Aa fatal fentanyl overdose in September 2018 led to a focus on the group by law enforcement. Baez’s son, Anthony Baez, was also a target of the investigation.
Electronic communications obtained by investigators starting in July 2019 revealed distribution of a heroin and fentanyl mixture, and cocaine to local distributors.
Throughout the investigation, authorities seized substantial amounts of drugs including over 1.8 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture and over 3.6 kilograms of cocaine. A stolen, loaded handgun, drug manufacturing equipment, and over $376,000 in cash. were also seized during the investigation.
Baez was charged along with 17 others in July 2020. All 18 defendants either pleaded guilty plea or were convicted at trial. Anthony Baez received a sentence of 13 years in prison and give years of supervised release in December 2020.
