NJ Man Convicted For Role In Trafficking Ton Of Drugs Into US: Feds

NORTH HALEDON, NJ — A Passaic County man has been convicted for his role in a years-long international drug trafficking ring, officials said.

William Panzera, 51, was one of four men charged with buying fentanyl, ketamine, and other drugs from China and distributing them throughout the United States.

In total, members of this drug conspiracy imported a metric ton of fentanyl and other drugs into the U.S., said federal authorities.

A jury in Newark found Panzera guilty of drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced on Wednesday.

Panzera and his co-defendants imported and distributed the controlled substances between January 2014 and September 2020, officials said. This included fentanyl analogues, MDMA, methylone, and ketamine, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Members of the drug conspiracy also sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to their source in China, officials added.

Panzera faces 10 years to life in prison on the drug trafficking conspiracy charge, and up to a $10 million fine. The international promotional money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.