2 New Bedford men indicted in connection to fentanyl conspiracy

BOSTON (WLNE) — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts announced two men from New Bedford were indicted in connection with a conspiracy to sell fentanyl.

According to court documents, 29-year-old Yohenry Contreras-Lara and 39-year-old Vinicio DeJesus Marrero Arias were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl. Contreras-Lara was also indicted on one count of misuse of a social security number and aggravated identity theft.

Officials said that after Contreras-Lara entered the U.S. back in 2002, on a tourist visa, he allegedly purchased the identity of a United States citizen and posed as that person for several years while also applying for two Massachusetts drivers licenses under that identity in 2022.

Documents further allege that after an investigation opened into a drug trafficking operation around the Lord Phillips Apartments in New Bedford, Contreras-Lara and Arias were identified as distributors in the area.

A search of both Contreras-Lara and Arias’ apartments, as well as a stash location in two storage units, resulted in the recovery of more than 800 grams of fentanyl and $1.2M in cash.

The charges the two are facing could provide a life sentence, at least five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10M.