Massachusetts man admits to possessing 10,000 counterfeit Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl

A Bay State man has admitted to possessing 10,000 counterfeit Percocet pills laced with fentanyl, according to the feds.

Lawrence man Joshua Morales, 31, pleaded guilty in Boston federal court to drug charges connected to a drug manufacturing ring. More than 10 kilos of drugs were found in the stash location.

According to the feds, law enforcement spotted Morales entering a residence in Methuen and leaving with a large orange bag. Investigators reportedly knew that the residence was an alleged drug distribution and manufacturing location.

While under surveillance, Morales then drove to a location in Lawrence, where he was apprehended. During a search of Morales’ vehicle, 10,000 counterfeit Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl were recovered.

Also, law enforcement searched the Methuen residence and found an automated pill press, along with multiple kilos of counterfeit Adderall and Percocet pills believed to contain fentanyl and meth.

Law enforcement also recovered numerous items used in the pill manufacturing process, including cutting agents, blenders, scales, bowls and bags full of suspected fentanyl and meth powders and binding agents.

Leader of North Shore drug trafficking organization sentenced to 19 years

A Saugus man was sentenced in Boston federal court for leading a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization that dealt tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and meth.

Lawrence Nagle, Jr., 35, was sentenced to 19 years in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release.

Nagle was one of 27 individuals charged, beginning in October 2022, in connection with a wide-ranging conspiracy to traffic counterfeit prescription pills.

In 2018, law enforcement identified Nagle, Jr. and his brother, Christopher Nagle, as leaders of a drug trafficking organization dealing various controlled substances throughout the North Shore.

These controlled substances included: Adderall (both pharmaceutical-grade pills and counterfeit pills containing meth), meth, Xanax, Oxycodone (both pharmaceutical-grade and counterfeit pills containing fentanyl), cocaine and marijuana, among others.

The investigation resulted in law enforcement seizing controlled substances, including: more than 74,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing meth; 591 counterfeit Adderall pills containing meth; 1,000 counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl; and 101 counterfeit Oxycodone pills containing fentanyl.

Also, two Glock firearms and ammunition were recovered from Nagle, Jr.’s house near Oxycodone pills. At the time, Nagle, Jr. was a felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

In August 2024, Christopher Nagle was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison.