NJ Man Convicted of Major Fentanyl Trafficking and Money Laundering

Defendant found guilty of drug trafficking conspiracy and faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison.

A jury in Newark, New Jersey, has convicted 51-year-old William Panzera, of North Haledon, for his role in a drug trafficking organization responsible for importing and distributing hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced. Panzera was found guilty of drug trafficking conspiracy and international promotional money laundering conspiracy; eight other defendants have previously pleaded guilty in related cases.

According to the evidence presented during trial, from approximately January 2014 through September 2020, Panzera and other co-conspirators agreed to import and distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl, MDMA, methylone, and ketamine. 

Members of the organization placed orders with a supplier in China and distributed these substances throughout New Jersey. The group also produced counterfeit pharmaceutical pills containing fentanyl. 

Altogether, they imported over a metric ton of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States. They then used wire transfers and Bitcoin—sending hundreds of thousands of dollars to China—to pay for these narcotics.

The drug trafficking conspiracy count for which Panzera was convicted carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, a maximum potential life sentence, and a fine of up to $10 million. The conviction for international promotional money laundering conspiracy carries up to 20 years in prison and a fine of as much as $500,000. Sentencing is scheduled for June 25, 2025.

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited the special agents of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) – Newark, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Spiros Karabinas, for investigating the case leading to Panzera’s conviction. Khanna also thanked U.S. Customs and Border Protection in New Jersey, New York, and Kentucky, as well as HSI in Philadelphia, the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Newark Division, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Newark, IRS-Criminal Investigation, the Newark Police Department, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office for their assistance.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. The OCDETF focuses on identifying, disrupting, and dismantling high-level criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.