A Springfield resident, Joshua Garcia, pleaded guilty on Mar. 24 in federal court to charges of possessing cocaine with intent to distribute and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug distribution.
Garcia, age 26, entered his plea before U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni in Springfield. Sentencing is scheduled for June 15. According to prosecutors, Garcia was charged in March 2025 after being found with drugs and a firearm on Oct. 3, 2024.
The charge of possession with intent to distribute cocaine carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, lifetime supervised release, and a fine up to $1 million. The charge related to the firearm could result in up to life imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and a fine as high as $250,000. Sentences are determined by the judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the plea along with Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for New England; and Colonel Geoffrey D. Noble, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Todd E. Newhouse from the Springfield Branch Office.