Cranston Man Admits He Sold Fake Oxycodone Pills Containing Fentanyl

CRANSTON, RI — A Cranston man admitted in federal court he led a drug ring that sold tens of thousands of fake Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl.

Jorge Pimentel, 35, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Between May 31, 2023, and Sept. 29, 2023, Pimentel brokered sales of fentanyl-laced pills and arranged for their delivery, prosecutors said. According to prosecutors, Pimentel was paid $37,000 in exchange for about 34,000 fentanyl-laced pills during FBI-monitored transactions.

Authorities arrested Pimentel on Sept. 29, 2023 after authorities searched a storage unit he rented in Pawtucket. Prosecutors said the storage unit contained 8,968 grams of fentanyl in powder form, 3405.1 grams of fentanyl in pill form (19,315 pills), and a high-speed pill press, among other items.

The pills sold by Pimentel and those located inside the storage unit were counterfeit Oxycodone containing fentanyl and were marketed as such to resemble a legitimately manufactured drug, prosecutors said.

Pimentel is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2025. No plea agreement has been filed in this case.

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