Massachusetts man confesses to trading drugs and unregistered firearms for Bitcoin
A man from Fall River in Massachusetts has admitted guilt in federal court in Boston for the trafficking of drugs that led to the death of a 17-year-old. Furthermore, he faced multiple charges related to drug and firearms offenses connected to an online platform he maintained on the Telegram app. Benjamin Hunt, 27, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday for distributing a cocktail of fentanyl, MDMA, MDA, ketamine, and LSD that caused the fatal overdose, in addition to other charges.
The arrest of Hunt came following an investigation by New Bedford police in 2024, which lasted a year and involved various government agencies. Prosecutors revealed that Hunt was behind an online marketplace on Telegram that operated from 2022 until his apprehension in 2024. Through this platform, he promoted and sold significant quantities of drugs and firearms to customers across the country. Hunt kept his identity hidden and requested payments primarily in Bitcoin, utilizing the US Postal Service for shipping.
The prosecutors were able to trace Hunt’s involvement in the overdose death of a 17-year-old in Indiana in May 2023. Evidence from Telegram messages indicated that Hunt supplied the drugs to the teenager and sent them through the USPS. On his Telegram marketplace, Hunt not only peddled drugs but also offered so-called “ghost guns,” firearms that are privately constructed, unregistered, and challenging to trace.
Upon Hunt’s arrest, law enforcement officials seized around 95 guns and related items. In one instance in 2024, he sold approximately 1,600 fentanyl pills to an undercover officer in exchange for cryptocurrency. Additionally, during this transaction, Hunt also sold a custom-made Glock-style firearm, gadgets for converting into machine guns, silencers, and 3D printers for the production of weapon components.
The sentencing for Hunt is scheduled for March 19, 2026. As per his plea deal, Hunt could potentially face a prison term ranging from 20 to 25 years in a federal penitentiary. The case highlights the dangerous implications of the illicit drug and firearm trade conducted through online platforms like Telegram, emphasizing the need for robust enforcement to combat such criminal activities.
