BOSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Massachusetts), published as received.

BOSTON – A Brockton man pleaded guilty yesterday to distributing fentanyl throughout southeastern Massachusetts.

Christian Collins, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and three counts of distribution of fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for Sept. 28, 2021.

In 2019 and 2020, law enforcement officers conducted an investigation into fentanyl traffickers operating in southeastern Massachusetts. On Dec. 16, 2019, it is alleged that Collins worked with a co-defendant to distribute 20 grams of fentanyl to a cooperating witness and an undercover police officer in Plympton. On Jan. 3, 2020, Collins and a third man sold 10 grams of fentanyl and a Taurus .38 caliber firearm to the same cooperating witness and undercover officer. On Jan. 6 and Jan. 8, 2020, Collins distributed a total of 45 grams of fentanyl to the cooperating witness and undercover officer.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; William S. Walker, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Brockton Police Chief Emanuel Gomes; East Bridgewater Police Chief Paul O’Brien; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruz made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Pohl of Mendell’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.