Lowell man among three busted by the feds on fentanyl distribution charges

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Jon Winkler

jwinkler@nashobavalleyvoice.com

BOSTON — A Lowell man, plus two Lawrence residents, were charged in federal court in Boston yesterday for allegedly distributing fentanyl.

According to a press release from the Department of Justice, the Lawrence residents, Javier Marrero, 27, and Ariel Pagan-Romero, 29 and the Lowell man, Jonathan Bermudez, 23, were all charged with conspiracy to distribute and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

A federal investigation conducted over several months with the help of an undercover police officer and other police departments in Lowell, Chelmsford and Andover lead to the discovery of the alleged drug operation carried out by the accused. Drugs and firearms were seized by law enforcement officers from several search warrants issued against the trio.

Pagan-Romero was arrested Thursday and later appeared in federal court.

Bermudez was previously arrested on an unrelated drug charge and is still in state custody, though he’ll appear in federal court for these new charges at a later date. Marrero is currently wanted by police.

All three men could face a sentence of ten years to life in prison, along with at least five years of supervised release and fines up to $10 million.