2 MA Men Plead To Counterfeit Fentanyl Pill Conspiracy: Feds

BOSTON, MA — Two Massachusetts men pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to manufacture and distribute counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

Elmidio Crisostomo, 30, of Lynnfield and David Depena, 32, of Lynn, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a media release.

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Crisostomo and Depena were indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2023, according to the release.

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"Crisostomo and Depena used an apartment in Lynn to manufacture counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and other controlled substances" and "distributed thousands of these pills to customers in towns including Malden and Revere," the release said.

"During a search of the Lynn apartment in June 2023, a large hand-crank-style press used for manufacturing pills as well as multiple kilograms of pills and powder containing fentanyl and other controlled substances were recovered," the release said.

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Crisostomo and Depena were scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 10. They each face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $1 million.

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