A Fall River resident, Carlos Perez, age 40, has been arrested and charged with firearm and drug offenses. The charges include one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as one count of distributing a controlled substance. Perez was taken into custody on November 13, 2025. Following his initial appearance in federal court in Boston, he was ordered detained pending a hearing set for November 19.
According to charging documents, authorities allege that on May 5, 2025, Perez sold cocaine along with a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a cooperating witness. Further allegations state that he sold additional firearms and ammunition on two other occasions: a Sig Sauer P230 SL .380 caliber pistol on June 2, and a Ruger Max 9 9mm pistol on June 30.
Perez is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to multiple prior convictions. Records indicate that he has faced 61 adult charges and over 15 criminal convictions. These include a conviction in 2015 for possession with intent to distribute a Class A substance—resulting in two years served—and two separate convictions for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon in 2008.
If convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, Perez could face up to fifteen years in prison, three years of supervised release, and fines up to $250,000. The charge related to distributing controlled substances carries the possibility of up to twenty years’ imprisonment, at least three years (and potentially up to life) of supervised release, plus fines reaching $1 million. Sentencing decisions are made by federal district court judges according to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Thomas Greco, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Fall River and New Bedford Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Reynolds III of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.”
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America—a Department of Justice initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration and eliminating cartels as well as transnational criminal organizations.
“The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
