Prosecutors say the conspirators moved analogues of fentanyl, MDMA, methylone and ketamine, distributing wholesale 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 involving the use of Bitcoin to pay overseas drug suppliers, according to the latest press release shared by the U.S. 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 the importation and distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl analogs 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 Chinese suppliers and distributed throughout New Jersey, both in bulk and as counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing fentanyl analogs rather than legitimate medications.
Authorities said the plot resulted in more than a ton of fentanyl-related substances and other drugs being imported 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 said eight other defendants linked to the case had already pleaded guilty.
Fentanyl Trafficking on the Dark Web
This case is part of a broader crackdown on fentanyl trafficking and illicit drug networks coordinated by American and international authorities. In May 2025, the Department of Justice announced the results of Operation RapTor, a large-scale international law enforcement initiative targeting drug markets on the dark web.
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The operation led to the arrest of 270 people worldwide and the seizure of more than $200 million in cash and digital assets.
According to the DOJ, efforts have focused on sellers, buyers, and administrators involved in the online trafficking of opioids, particularly fentanyl, and other narcotics. Operation RapTor was carried out in coordination with law enforcement agencies from 10 countries, including the United States, 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 Countermeasures (JCODE) team.
Authorities seized more than two tons of drugs, including 144 kilograms of substances containing fentanyl, as well as more than 180 firearms. The investigation relied on intelligence gathered from previously dismantled darknet marketplaces, such as Nemesis and Tor2Door. The operation also saw the first use of sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control in a JCODE action.
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