BOSTON – A former aide at a Lawrence public school pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to drug charges involving kilos of cocaine and thousands of oxycodone pills.

Reynaldo Sanchez, 26, of Lawrence, pleaded guilty to attempted possession with intent to distribute oxycodone and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for Sept. 8, 2017.

In August 2015, federal agents began investigating Sanchez for his involvement in a narcotics and money laundering organization operating in the Boston area. During the investigation, Sanchez arranged to purchase 10–15 kilograms of cocaine for $33,000 per kilogram from undercover federal agents. Furthermore, between March 29, 2016, and March 31, 2016, Sanchez sought to purchase what he believed were 4,000 oxycodone pills for $12 per pill from an undercover agent posing as a drug courier. At the time of his arrest, Sanchez was carrying $48,000 in cash in a duffle bag and on his person. After executing a search warrant at Sanchez’s residence, agents recovered approximately 2.2 kilograms of cocaine.

The charge of attempted possession with intent to distribute oxycodone provides for a sentence of no more than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, Boston Field Office; and Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement today. Assistance was also provided by the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police and the Lawrence, Franklin, Wareham and Dartmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys David D’Addio and Kelly Begg Lawrence of Weinreb’s Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.