74-year-old Texas woman living in Mass. pleads guilty to distributing 150,000 doses of fentanyl

"A 74-year-old woman in Massachusetts has been sentenced to two years of probation after she pleaded guilty to taking part in an interstate fentanyl trafficking ring. Patrica Parker will spend nine months of her probation on home confinement, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Rhode Island said Monday. Originally from Texas but now living in Massachusetts, Parker pleaded guilty in May to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distributing more than 310 grams of the drug, equivalent to 150,000 lethal doses."

"According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Parker popped up on authorities' radar in 2022 after she distributed fentanyl-laced counterfeit amphetamine pills to an undercover Food and Drug Administration special agent in Rhode Island. In an affidavit filed in federal court, the FDA agent described Parker as a "remailer," or someone who receives a large parcel of illicit product from overseas and breaks it into smaller packages before mailing those along."

"Parker purportedly told authorities she had been ordering pharmaceuticals from a man named "John" for several years but could no longer afford the medications. At that point, she said, "John" offered to provide her pharmaceuticals if she agreed to mail pills to others. Prosecutors said records showed Parker had distributed more than 1,000 parcels believed to contain illegal drugs. In a sentencing memorandum, Parker's attorney explained she took on the repacking work as a "side hustle"."

A 74-year-old Massachusetts resident pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute fentanyl and distributing over 310 grams, estimated at 150,000 lethal doses, and received two years probation with nine months home confinement. Authorities traced her activity after she sold fentanyl-laced counterfeit amphetamine pills to an undercover FDA agent in Rhode Island. An affidavit identified her as a remailer who repackaged large overseas parcels into smaller mailings. Searches recovered more than 18,000 illicit pills including counterfeit Adderall, oxycodone and diazepam. She said a man called "John" provided pharmaceuticals and she agreed to mail parcels after financial hardship; records show over 1,000 parcels.

Read at Boston.com