Joseph Llano, 26, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 60 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base in Central Vermont. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Mary Kay Lanthier on February 4, 2026. Llano had previously pleaded guilty to the charge.
Court documents reveal that Llano worked with his brother Justin Llano, uncles Tanashe Edwards and Edwin Davila, and other associates to traffic cocaine base and fentanyl from Massachusetts into Central Vermont over several years. The operation supplied drugs to customers in Washington, Orange, and Lamoille counties. Llano recruited individuals in Vermont who allowed their homes to be used as distribution points for controlled substances brought by people traveling from Massachusetts. He also enlisted couriers who transported drugs and proceeds between the two states.
One courier made around 100 trips between Springfield, Massachusetts and Central Vermont during the conspiracy. Each trip involved bringing between 50 and 60 grams of cocaine base to Vermont; at times, fentanyl was also transported. Additionally, Joseph Llano managed a social media account used to communicate with drug customers and arrange sales of cocaine base or fentanyl. Law enforcement conducted four controlled purchases of cocaine base after communicating through this account.
First Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan A. Ophardt recognized the combined efforts of several agencies: “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.”
The prosecution was led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Turner while David Silver represented Joseph Llano.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America which focuses federal resources on addressing illegal immigration issues as well as dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations nationwide.
