Justin Llano, a 25-year-old resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced on March 2, 2026, to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge William K. Sessions III after Llano pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine base in Central Vermont.
Court documents indicate that between 2021 and 2024, Justin Llano operated a drug distribution network with his brother Joseph Llano, uncles Tanashe Edwards and Edwin Davila, and other associates. The group trafficked cocaine base and fentanyl from Massachusetts into Central Vermont, distributing drugs across Washington, Orange, and Lamoille counties.
Llano was initially arrested following a May 2022 federal indictment on drug charges. Prior to this arrest, law enforcement had conducted two controlled purchases from him. During one transaction on April 22, 2022, he wore body armor and carried a handgun; additional firearms were found at the scene. Investigators also determined that Llano used customers to obtain firearms in Vermont for trafficking back to Massachusetts.
In September 2022, Springfield Police arrested Llano for illegal firearm possession. Afterward, he failed to report to pre-trial services in Vermont and became a fugitive. While still evading authorities beginning in 2023, he resumed drug trafficking activities directed toward Vermont. He instructed individuals from Massachusetts (“runners”) to travel north for distribution and organized couriers for drugs and proceeds between the two states.
During the conspiracy’s duration, the main courier made about 100 trips transporting drugs from Springfield to Central Vermont. By late 2024 under Llano’s direction, these trips occurred multiple times weekly with each trip carrying up to 60 grams of cocaine base as well as fentanyl at times. Drug transactions were arranged through a popular social media messaging app.
An incident in September 2024 involved an armed associate threatening residents at a distribution site over missing drug proceeds; law enforcement later executed a search warrant there resulting in seizures of cocaine base and fentanyl.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt acknowledged the cooperation among several agencies: “The collaborative investigatory efforts of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Marshals Service; Barre Town Police Department; Barre City Police Department; Berlin Police Department; and Springfield (Massachusetts) Police Department are commendable.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner prosecuted the case while Allan Sullivan represented Justin Llano.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at mobilizing Justice Department resources against illegal immigration and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators.
