Press Release  Worcester Man Pleads Guilty, Sentenced to State Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and Heroin

Boston — A Worcester man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to state prison for trafficking fentanyl and heroin and for distributing ketamine, Attorney General Maura Healey announced today.

Bryan Pena, 31, pleaded guilty in Worcester Superior Court to Trafficking in Heroin (two counts), Trafficking in Fentanyl (one count), Distribution of Ketamine (one count), and Possession of Ammunition (one count). After the plea was entered, Judge Anthony Campo sentenced Pena to five to seven years in state prison, with two years of probation upon his release.

“To combat the opioid crisis here in our state, we must tackle it from all angles, including going after drug traffickers,” said AG Healey. “We will not stop our fight to take these drugs off our streets, and we will continue prosecuting individuals who traffic these illegal and deadly narcotics.”

Pena was arrested in December 2017 with JT Nikko Holley, 25, and indicted by a Worcester County Grand Jury in March 2018 following an investigation by the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Worcester District Attorney’s Office and the Worcester Police Department Vice Squad.

Authorities conducted undercover purchases of heroin, fentanyl, ketamine and cocaine from Pena and Holley on six different occasions prior to their arrest. In total, authorities purchased 20 grams of a heroin, fentanyl and ketamine mixture from Pena; 40 grams of a heroin, fentanyl and ketamine mixture, 20 grams of fentanyl and 20 grams of ketamine from Pena and Holley together; as well as five grams of fentanyl and one gram of cocaine from Holley.

During the execution of a search warrant at Pena’s residence in Worcester, authorities seized items used for the packaging and distribution of drugs and 42 rounds of ammunition. 

The AG’s Office has committed a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to form a Fentanyl Strike Force. In partnership with the Massachusetts State Police, the task force targets heroin and fentanyl traffickers and dismantles their distribution networks across Massachusetts. The funds expand the AG’s Office’s own drug enforcement work and have helped build enhanced partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement.

The case against Holley remains open and is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Lynn Brennan of AG Healey’s Enterprise, Major and Cyber Crimes Division, with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit.

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