BOSTON — A Southbridge man was sentenced Thursday in federal court to six years in prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy that involved packages shipped from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts, as well as possession of a machinegun and cocaine intended for distribution.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Miguel Lopez, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Margaret R. Guzman to six years in prison followed by five years of supervised release. Lopez pleaded guilty in December 2025 to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and unlawful possession of a machinegun.
Federal prosecutors say Lopez conspired with others from about April 2023 through April 2024 to distribute cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts. Lopez was observed collecting packages suspected of containing controlled substances on at least four occasions during that period.
On around January 29, 2024, authorities seized a package addressed to Lopez and found one kilogram of cocaine hidden inside. During an April 2024 search of Lopez’s residence, investigators found about two kilograms of cocaine concealed inside a package delivered earlier that day.
Authorities also recovered a Glock pistol fitted with a machinegun conversion device, along with ammunition, a 30-round magazine and a 50-round drum magazine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts reported.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with other federal and local law enforcement partners. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kaitlin Brown prosecuted the case.
