Tiverton Man Sentenced for Drug Trafficking & Money Laundering

TIVERTON, RI — A Rhode Island man was sentenced yesterday in U.S. District Court in Boston in connection with a wide-ranging conspiracy related to selling cocaine, heroin and other narcotics throughout Bristol County, Mass., and Rhode Island.

Luis Lopez, alias Juan Gonzalez, 43, of Tiverton, pleaded guilty earlier to conspiracy drug trafficking and money laundering charges. He was sentenced on Wednesday in Boston federal court.

U.S. Dist. Court Judge Rya W. Zobel gave him 15 years in prison and five years of probation.

"Lopez also agreed to forfeit property worth over $1 million, including three properties in Rhode Island, a used car dealership based in Fall River, Mass., and a number of luxury vehicles," the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

According to the prosecutors, between 2014 and 2016, Lopez imported, at a minimum, 50 to 100 kilograms of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts, and distributed it in New Bedford and Fall River with co-conspirators.

He also conspired with others to distribute heroin, fentanyl and acetylfentanyl. Lopez admitted that a kilogram of a fentanyl/acetylfentanyl mix, which was found at a drug stash house in June, did belong to him. He also laundered drug money through Hillside Auto, his Fall River, Mass. used car business. He bought Hillside Auto in a relative's name.

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