Fall River – Benjamin Hunt, 27, was sentenced to 23 years in federal prison for running an online Telegram marketplace selling fentanyl and other drugs and firearms, actions prosecutors say were the “but-for” cause of a 17-year-old’s overdose death in May 2023.
A Fall River man was sentenced Friday to 23 years in federal prison after prosecutors said his Telegram marketplace helped fuel an overdose death that left a 17-year-old dead in May 2023.
Benjamin Hunt, 27, used the messaging app Telegram from at least 2022 through 2024 to sell controlled substances and firearms, Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah Foley’s office said in a press release. Investigators connected Hunt to the death of an out-of-state minor who overdosed in May 2023. Prosecutors said Hunt supplied the victim with fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, ketamine, and LSD.
Under a guilty plea entered in December 2025. Hunt admitted the drugs he distributed to the minor—whose name was not released—were the “but-for” cause of the teen’s death. according to Foley’s office. Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the New England Field Division said the sentence is about accountability for a crime that ended a young life.
“Today’s sentence holds Benjamin Hunt accountable for a crime that ended a young life and forever changed a family,” Forget said in the statement.
Federal prosecutors said Hunt operated an online storefront that included both drugs and lethal weaponry. Through the marketplace. Hunt sold cocaine. LSD. MDMA. ketamine. and counterfeit pharmaceutical pills made to resemble oxycodone but containing fentanyl. according to the criminal complaint. Authorities also said Hunt sold “ghost guns” and machine gun conversion devices, commonly known as “switches,” through Telegram. Some of those devices were manufactured using 3-D printing technology.
Investigators said Hunt relied on digital payments to keep customers from being easily traced. Prosecutors said customers generally paid through Bitcoin transactions and, in some instances, Cash App, in an effort to conceal identities.
The case turned on evidence built from undercover purchases, package interceptions, and Telegram messages reviewed by investigators. Prosecutors said they identified multiple drug transactions after reviewing messages between Hunt and the teen. including communications in the hours before the victim’s death. The criminal complaint says the messages showed the two discussed the victim’s consumption of drugs supplied by Hunt.
In the sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said Hunt knew the victim struggled with substance abuse. They described a message in which the minor asked Hunt to hold off on mailing drugs because he “thought he would die,” but prosecutors said Hunt still shipped drugs to the teen.
“This case is a stark reminder that drug dealers are no longer just on street corners,” Foley said. “They are online preying on our children via phones and computers and pushing highly addictive and deadly drugs.”
The government also presented details of how Hunt sold counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to law enforcement. In three separate undercover transactions in February. May. and June 2024. Hunt sold counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl to an undercover law enforcement officer. Some of those sales involved more than 40 grams of fentanyl, Foley’s office said.
In one of those transactions. Hunt. who was not licensed to sell firearms. also sold a privately made Glock-style firearm. multiple machine gun conversion devices. an extended magazine. and 3-D printed brass knuckles. according to court records. Authorities said firearms and firearm-related components—including some made from 3-D printing—were recovered.
Prosecutors said the operation used the mail as well. In August 2024, Hunt mailed a package containing approximately 1,600 fentanyl pills to an undercover law enforcement officer, prosecutors said. Another package sent by Hunt contained a “smoke grenade” that was turned over to the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad. Court documents said the device was determined to be a live smoke grenade containing an explosive fuse and chemical filler designed to create colored smoke.
Investigators also said surveillance footage tracked Hunt’s movements and identified packages he shipped. Federal records show authorities recovered approximately 61 grams of suspected MDMA and nearly 66 grams of suspected ketamine that had been concealed within multiple layers of envelopes and packaging materials.
After agents executed a search warrant at Hunt’s residence. prosecutors said they found large quantities of drugs and firearms and firearm-related equipment. In total, authorities seized approximately 95 firearms and related items, court records show. Prosecutors described the scale of Hunt’s drug inventory as “staggering. ” saying in the sentencing memorandum that whether it was street drugs like cocaine or prescription drugs like Xanax. Hunt had it available in bulk.
Hunt was arrested in August 2024 and later pleaded guilty to distribution of fentanyl. MDMA. MDA. ketamine. and LSD resulting in death. Foley’s office said. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl; two counts of unlawful transfer and possession of a machine gun; and one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and cocaine.
The sentencing agreement calls for Hunt to serve 23 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release.
Thomas Greco, special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Boston Field Division, said the sentence should deter others involved in trafficking fentanyl and illegal firearm conversion devices.
“Today’s sentence not only imposes a measure of justice but should serve to remind anyone considering selling fentanyl or machinegun conversion devices: You are responsible for the consequences of those actions,” Greco said.
Benjamin Hunt Fall River fentanyl Telegram firearms machine gun conversion devices ghost guns overdose death federal sentencing Leah Foley
23 years seems kinda light for fentanyl tbh.
So they’re saying Telegram was the cause? Like the app itself? Because if it’s just “online” then how is that any different than texting? Idk my brain hurts.
I read “but-for” and I’m like what even is that in normal person words. But yeah, selling fentanyl + firearms on Telegram is beyond messed up. I’m surprised it took until Dec 2025 for the guilty plea too.
Man I swear every time I see Telegram it’s either scams or drugs. 17-year-old… that’s just tragic. Also “out-of-state minor” like does that mean they weren’t even in Mass? Either way, lock him up and throw away the key.