Brockton man pleads guilty to illegal weapons acquisition and drug possession and distribution

BROCKTON, Mass. (WLNE) – The United States Attorney's Office announced that a Brockton man has pleaded guilty to felony charges of firearm possession, cocaine possession, fentanyl and conspiracy.

Antonio Denziah Fernandes, 23, was charged during the arraignment with two counts of illegally receiving a firearm, two counts of distribution and possession of 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute, one count of possession of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute, and one count of conspiracy to distribute and possession of 40 grams or more of fentanyl with intent to distribute.

Prosecutors said Fernandes had been trafficking firearms and narcotics in the Brockton area since at least late 2021 and in January 2022 obtained and sold a 9mm Glock Model 48 pistol for $1,700 while charged with trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl.

In addition, at about the same time, Fernandes distributed around 100 grams of fentanyl in front of his residence.

Fernandes was arrested in the passenger seat of a car that he and a co-conspirator were using to distribute narcotics.

During a search of his person, the vehicle in which he was arrested, and an abandoned vehicle in which Fernandes was storing drugs, police found 177.5 grams of fentanyl, 51.5 grams of cocaine, 18.2 grams of Percocet pills, eight grams of mushrooms, a loaded firearm, 27 rounds of 9mm ammunition, and drug packaging material.

The verdict against Fernandes is scheduled for December 10.