Prosecutors say the conspirators moved fentanyl analogues, MDMA, methylone, and ketamine, distributing bulk drugs and fake pills.
A Passaic County man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale fentanyl distribution and money laundering conspiracy that involved the use of Bitcoin to pay overseas drug suppliers, according to the latest press release shared by the US Department of Justice.
William Panzera, 53, of North Haledon, New Jersey, was sentenced following his conviction for drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy.
Counterfeit Pills, Real Fentanyl
According to court documents and statements made in court, Panzera was a member of a drug trafficking organization responsible for importing and distributing hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogues and other controlled substances. Prosecutors said Panzera and his co-conspirators agreed to import and distribute fentanyl analogues, MDMA, methylone, and ketamine.
The drugs were sourced from suppliers in China and were distributed across New Jersey, both in bulk form and as counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that contained fentanyl analogues rather than legitimate medication.
Authorities said the conspiracy resulted in the importation of more than a metric ton of fentanyl-related substances and other drugs into the United States. To pay for the shipments, members of the organization sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to China using a combination of wire transfers and Bitcoin (BTC).
Panzera was convicted at trial in January 2025. The Justice Department stated that eight other defendants connected to the case have previously pleaded guilty.
Fentanyl Trafficking on Dark Web
This case comes as part of a broader crackdown on fentanyl trafficking and illicit drug networks coordinated by US and international authorities. In May 2025, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation RapTor, a large-scale international law enforcement initiative targeting dark web drug markets.
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The operation led to the arrest of 270 individuals worldwide and the seizure of more than $200 million in cash and digital assets.
According to the DOJ, the effort focused on vendors, buyers, and administrators involved in the online trafficking of opioids, particularly fentanyl, and other narcotics. Operation RapTor was conducted in coordination with law enforcement agencies from 10 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, and Brazil, and was described as the largest takedown in the history of the agency’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team.
Authorities seized more than two metric tons of drugs, including 144 kilograms of fentanyl-laced substances, in addition to over 180 firearms. The investigation relied on intelligence gathered from previously dismantled darknet markets such as Nemesis and Tor2Door. The operation also saw the first use of sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control as part of a JCODE action.
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