Fall River man convicted for role in drug trafficking organization spanning southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Texas and beyond – Fall River Reporter

BOSTON – A Fall River man was sentenced today for his role in a drug distribution conspiracy involving thousands of oxycodone pills.

Austin Gonsalves, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, according to the Massachusetts Department of Justice. Gonsalves was also ordered to forfeit $16,130. In May 2024, Gonsalves pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Gonsalves was arrested and charged along with five others in July 2023 for their alleged involvement in a drug trafficking organization that distributed oxycodone pills in southeastern Massachusetts. The defendants were subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023.

Between at least February 2023 and May 2023, Gonsalves obtained hundreds of pills at a time, allegedly from co-defendant Kenneth Veiga, in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars and redistributed the pills to others. On one occasion, Gonsalves paid $22,000 to obtain 800 oxycodones to later distribute. A search of Gonsalves' Fall River residence in July 2023 resulted in the seizure of approximately $16,000 in cash and approximately 400 oxycodone pills.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; John E. Mawn Jr., acting colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; Harry Chavis, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Criminal Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Boston Field Office; and Kitty Larco-Ward, inspector in charge of the Boston Division of the United States Postal Inspection Service, made the announcement today. Special assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; US Coast Guard Investigative Service; Barnstable County Sheriff's Office; and the Barnstable, Dennis, Bourne, Mashpee, Yarmouth, Sandwich and Falmouth police departments. Assistant United States Attorney John T. Mulcahy of the Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.