Saugus Woman Admits To Vending Over 100,000 Fentanyl-Laced Pills

BOSTON — A woman from Saugus pleaded guilty in Boston Federal Court last Friday for her role in what authorities are calling a "prolific drug trafficking organization" supplying counterfeit prescription Percocet pills containing fentanyl to buyers on the North Shore.

Nicole Benton, 45, of Saugus, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and other controlled substances and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Back in June, Benton was charged along with co-conspirators Vincent Caruso, Laurie Caruso, and Ernest Johnson, who have pleaded not guilty.

According to the charging documents, Benton was a member of a large drug trafficking organization (DTO) operated by Vincent Caruso, a self-admitted Crip gang member, and included Johnson and Vincent Caruso's mother, Laurie Caruso, among others.

Laurie Caruso was charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and one count of conspiracy to sell the drugs over state lines.

Vincent Caruso, 26, and Ernest Johnson, 33, of Salem, were charged with one count of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess 400 grams or more of fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to sell drugs over state lines, and one count of conspiracy to possess firearms in conducting a drug crime.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said the defendants possessed a pill press capable of generating up to 15,000 pills per hour, which they purported to be Percocet, but which instead contained fentanyl.

A single counterfeit fentanyl pill allegedly retails between $10-$20, thereby generating millions of dollars in retails sales.

Benton admitted to distributing more than 100,000 pressed fentanyl pills on behalf of the organization.

During a search of Benton's residence on June 30, 2021, approximately 40 grams of fentanyl pills and a firearm were seized.

The charge of conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl provides for a sentence of up to life in prison, at least four years and up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million.

Just last week, the Drug Enforcement Administration issued a Public Safety Alert for the first time in six years due to a dramatic increase in fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Benton is scheduled for sentencing on January 20, 2022.

More on Patch:

• Salem Men Charged In North Shore Counterfeit Pill Drug Bust: FBI
• Drastic Increase Of Deadly Pills Sparks Public Safety Alert: DEA

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