A Southbridge resident has pleaded guilty to charges related to a cocaine trafficking conspiracy and possession of a machinegun, according to federal authorities.
Miguel Lopez, 28, entered his plea on December 11 before U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman. He admitted to one count each of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and unlawful possession of a machine gun. Sentencing is scheduled for March 11, 2026. Lopez was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024.
Authorities reported that between April 2023 and April 2024, Lopez worked with others to distribute cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico into Massachusetts. Investigators observed him collecting packages suspected of containing drugs on at least four occasions during this period. On January 29, 2024, law enforcement seized a package addressed to Lopez containing one kilogram of cocaine. A search at his residence in April 2024 led officers to find about two kilograms of cocaine inside another delivered package. They also found a Glock pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, ammunition, and high-capacity magazines.
The charges against Lopez carry significant penalties: up to 20 years in prison and fines up to $1 million for each drug-related offense, and up to 10 years in prison plus fines up to $250,000 for the machinegun charge. Actual sentences are determined by the federal judge based on sentencing guidelines and relevant statutes.
“United States Attorney Leah B. Foley; Jarod A. Forget, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Nicholas Bucciarelli, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division made the announcement today.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown is prosecuting the case.
Officials noted that this prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159—an effort aimed at combating criminal cartels and transnational organizations through interagency collaboration involving multiple federal agencies as well as state and local law enforcement partners.