Crime & Safety
NJ Man Brought Metric Ton Of Fentanyl Into U.S., Headed To Prison
The man and his crew sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to China using wire transfers and Bitcoin to pay for the drugs.
PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — A Passaic County man is headed to prison after being convicted of bringing more than a metric ton of fentanyl and other drugs into the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
William Panzera, 53, of North Haledon, played a part in a multi-level drug trafficking scheme. He was convicted in January 2025 after four other New Jersey conspirators pleaded guilty.
Other New Jersey men involved in this case were Thomas Padovano, 48, and Bartholomew Padovano, 71, both of Newark, as well as Sean Tighe, 46, of Kearny.
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Read More: NJ Men Bought Drugs From China, Sold Them In Newark: Prosecutors
According to court documents, Panzera and his crew acquired fentanyl, MDMA, methylone, and ketamine from a source in China.
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The drugs would be distributed throughout New Jersey, specifically in Newark, some of which were in the form of phony pharmaceutical pills, but were actually fentanyl analogues.
The operation sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to China using wire transfers and Bitcoin to pay for the drugs, officials added.
Panzera was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the operation.
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