A Puerto Rican man has been sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl in Maine.
According to officials, 28-year-old Ian Soto-Bermudez was involved in bringing large quantities of the deadly drug from Massachusetts to central and western Maine.
He was arrested as part of an investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which uncovered a major drug trafficking operation. Prosecutors said Soto-Bermudez regularly supplied fentanyl to others who sold it in different parts of Maine.
The case revealed that between September 2021 and May 2022, he supplied at least 1.8 kilograms of fentanyl—enough to potentially kill hundreds of thousands of people. Authorities said this fentanyl was often sold to people struggling with addiction in areas like Oxford County.
Soto-Bermudez was charged and later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. On June 11, 2024, he was sentenced to 160 months (13 years and 4 months) in federal prison.
The court highlighted the seriousness of the case, especially given the rise in overdose deaths caused by fentanyl in recent years.
According to data, Maine continues to face a growing drug crisis, with fentanyl playing a major role in overdose cases.
This sentencing is part of a larger federal effort to fight drug trafficking and keep dangerous opioids off the streets. Officials thanked law enforcement teams across various agencies for working together to stop this illegal activity.
Federal prosecutors also mentioned that the case shows how fentanyl can move across state lines and affect smaller communities. They warned that more such investigations are ongoing, and anyone involved in distributing such drugs will face serious punishment.
The DEA and the U.S. Attorney’s Office said this is an example of how they are committed to breaking the supply chains of deadly drugs. They urged the public to be aware of how dangerous fentanyl is, even in small amounts.
With this conviction, law enforcement hopes it sends a strong message to others involved in the illegal drug trade.