Mario Fernandez Nunez, a 23-year-old Philadelphia resident, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking operation involving fentanyl and cocaine. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Chad F. Kenney, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
Nunez faced charges stemming from a superseding indictment filed in July 2024. He pleaded guilty last May to several offenses: conspiracy to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl and 500 grams of cocaine; three counts of distributing at least 40 grams of fentanyl; possession with intent to distribute those substances; possession of a firearm during drug trafficking; and possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a protected location.
Court documents and hearings revealed that between November 2023 and February 2024, Nunez worked with co-defendant Yercy Fernandez Salcedo and others to distribute fentanyl. Salcedo typically arranged the sales by phone, while Nunez delivered the drugs and collected payment.
As part of their operation, Salcedo had Nunez live at and manage a stash house on the 4700 block of Worth Street in Philadelphia. In February 2024, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at this property, recovering six firearms, tens of thousands of packets containing fentanyl, one kilogram of cocaine, packaging materials, and other paraphernalia.
Salcedo pleaded guilty in July to similar drug trafficking and gun charges. He is currently awaiting sentencing.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) along with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Shayna Gannone is prosecuting the case.
“This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Narcotics Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shayna Gannone,” stated U.S. Attorney David Metcalf.
