Fall River man sentenced to 23 years for drug trafficking operation that killed minor

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Prosecutors say Benjamin Hunt induced a 17-year-old’s overdose dying.

A Fall River man was sentenced Friday to 23 years in federal jail for working a web based market that trafficked fentanyl, different unlawful medicine, and firearms and was linked to the dying of a 17-year-old, authorities introduced. 

Benjamin Hunt, 27, used the messaging app Telegram from at the very least 2022 by 2024 to promote managed substances and firearms, Massachusetts U.S. Lawyer Leah Foley’s workplace mentioned in a press launch.

Investigators linked Hunt to the dying of an out-of-state minor who died from an overdose in Might 2023. Prosecutors mentioned Hunt provided the sufferer with fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, ketamine, and LSD.

As a part of his responsible plea in December 2025, Hunt admitted the medicine he distributed to the minor, whose title shouldn’t be being launched, had been the “but-for” trigger of the teenager’s dying, in line with Foley’s workplace.  

“As we speak’s sentence holds Benjamin Hunt accountable for a criminal offense that ended a younger life and endlessly modified a household,” Particular Agent in Cost Jarod Overlook, of New England Area Division, mentioned within the assertion. “Drug traffickers who distribute harmful substances with out regard for human life are fueling a public security disaster in communities throughout Massachusetts and the nation.” 

By his on-line market, Hunt offered cocaine, LSD, MDMA, ketamine, and counterfeit pharmaceutical tablets made to resemble oxycodone however containing fentanyl, in line with the prison grievance. 

Authorities mentioned Hunt additionally offered “ghost weapons” and machine gun conversion gadgets, generally generally known as “switches,” by his Telegram market. A few of these gadgets had been manufactured by 3-D printing expertise. 

Clients usually paid by Bitcoin transactions and, in some situations, Money App in an effort to hide their identities, courtroom data state. 

The investigation into Hunt’s operation included undercover purchases, bundle interceptions, and uncovering Telegram messages. 

Investigators reviewed Telegram messages between Hunt and the teenager and recognized a number of drug transactions between them. The messages confirmed the 2 communicated within the hours earlier than the sufferer’s dying, together with discussions concerning the sufferer’s consumption of medicine provided by Hunt, in line with the prison grievance.

Within the sentencing memorandum, prosecutors mentioned Hunt knew the sufferer struggled with substance abuse. In a single message, the minor requested Hunt to carry off on mailing medicine as he “thought he would die” — however Hunt nonetheless shipped medicine to the teenager, prosecutors wrote. 

“This case is a stark reminder that drug sellers are not simply on road corners,” Foley mentioned. “They’re on-line preying on our kids by way of telephones and computer systems and pushing extremely addictive and lethal medicine.” 

In three separate undercover transactions in February, Might, and June 2024, Hunt offered counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl to an undercover legislation enforcement officer. A few of these gross sales concerned greater than 40 grams of fentanyl, in line with Foley’s workplace. 

In a kind of transactions, Hunt, who was not licensed to promote firearms, additionally offered a privately made Glock-style firearm, a number of machine gun conversion gadgets, an prolonged journal and 3-D printed brass knuckles, in line with courtroom data. 

In August 2024, Hunt mailed a bundle containing roughly 1,600 fentanyl tablets to an undercover legislation enforcement officer, prosecutors mentioned. 

One other bundle despatched by Hunt contained a “smoke grenade” that was turned over to the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad, in line with courtroom paperwork. The gadget was decided to be a dwell smoke grenade containing an explosive fuse and chemical filler designed to create coloured smoke. 

In one other interception, investigators used surveillance footage to trace Hunt’s actions and establish packages he shipped by the mail. 

Authorities recovered roughly 61 grams of suspected MDMA and practically 66 grams of suspected ketamine that had been hid inside a number of layers of envelopes and packaging supplies, in line with courtroom data. 

Federal brokers later executed a search warrant at Hunt’s residence and found massive portions of medicine, firearms, and firearm-related tools. In complete, authorities seized roughly 95 firearms and associated gadgets, data present. 

Prosecutors described the dimensions of Hunt’s drug stock as “staggering.” 

“Whether or not it was road medicine like cocaine or prescribed drugs like Xanax, Hunt had it accessible in bulk,” the sentencing memorandum states. 

Hunt was arrested in August 2024 and later pleaded responsible to distribution of fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, ketamine, and LSD leading to dying, in line with Foley’s workplace.  

He additionally pleaded responsible to 2 counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; one depend of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or extra of fentanyl; two counts of illegal switch and possession of a machine gun; and one depend of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or extra of a combination containing methamphetamine and cocaine. 

Hunt will serve 23 years in jail adopted by 5 years of supervised launch, in line with the sentencing settlement. 

Thomas Greco, particular agent in command of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Boston Area Division, mentioned the sentence ought to ship a message to others concerned in trafficking fentanyl and unlawful firearm conversion gadgets.

“As we speak’s sentence not solely imposes a measure of justice however ought to serve to remind anybody contemplating promoting fentanyl or machinegun conversion gadgets: You’re answerable for the results of these actions,” Greco mentioned.