A Utica man has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison for his role in a large fentanyl trafficking ring. Federal prosecutors say 59-year-old Bernabe Lopez acquired the deadly drug from co-conspirators and sold the fentanyl in Utica.
He’s the last of nine sentenced in the trafficking ring. The others are serving sentences ranging from just over three years to 10 years in prison.
- Ivan Rodriguez, Sr., the head of the Rodriguez DTO, plead guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distribution of fentanyl and one count of money laundering and was sentenced to 121 months incarceration.
- Eric Ares plead guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 120 months incarceration.
- Ivan Rodriguez, Jr. plead guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 120 months incarceration.
- Jose Morales plead guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl, and distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and was sentenced to 120 months incarceration.
- Harry Rodriguez plead guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 84 months incarceration.
- Edgar Tejada plead guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and was sentenced to 72 months incarceration.
- Angel Calderon Ortiz plead guilty to conspiring distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 60 months incarceration.
- Jose Aponte plead guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and was sentenced to 40 months incarceration.