Cape Cod Pizza Shop Owner: I Ran Fentanyl Ring

BOSTON, MA — A Cape Cod pizza shop owner this week admitted to moonlighting as a large-scale drug distributor dealing in fentanyl, heroin and cocaine, according to prosecutors. Alex Fraga, 25, of Yarmouth, pleaded guilty in federal court in Boston to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl and heroin. He faces anywhere from 10 years to life in prison, a minimum of 5 years supervised released and a fine of up to $10 million.

Fraga operated Scottie's Pizza in Hyannis. Prosecutors said he ran his drug-dealing side business with his brother, Kevin, 24, also of Yarmouth. The pair were supplied with drugs by Kelvin Chalas, also known as Jose Solivan, 40, a Dominican Republic national living in Boston, and James Ramirez, 55, of Boston, prosecutors said. The four men were arrested in August in a series of raids. The Fragas stored drugs in several Yarmouth locations while Chalas and Ramirez stashed fentanyl at two Dorchester residences and a Dorchester Santander Bank safety deposit box, prosecutors said.

"This organization was responsible for distributing kilogram quantities of fentanyl and heroin throughout the Cape Cod area," DEA agent Michael Ferguson said in a statement. "As we all know, fentanyl and heroin are causing deaths across the Commonwealth in record numbers."

The arrests were the result of a "long-term" undercover investigation, according to Acting U.S. Attorney William Weinreb.

"Large-scale narcotics trafficking in Massachusetts is destroying lives and entire communities," Weinreb said in a statement." This was an important investigation that led investigators from Boston to Cape Cod and removed suspected deadly fentanyl-laced pills from the streets. Those pills would have put lives at risk."

Ramirez drove vehicles with special "hides" to conceal the contraband while delivering it to the Fraga brothers on Cape Cod, authorities said. The Fragas hid the drugs at multiple locations, including a Yarmouthport residence, a Winnebago and a hotel room at the Hyannis Best Western, authorities said.

Agents seized kilograms worth of heroin and fentanyl, according to Weinreb.

Alex Fraga will be sentenced February 8. Kevin Fraga recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, cocaine and heroin. He will be sentenced January 24. The cases against Chalas and Ramirez are pending.

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Photo credit: Associated Press/Seth Wenig