Large-Scale Counterfeit Pill Manufacturer Charged With Drug Offenses and Pandemic Loan Fraud

BOSTON — FBI, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) special agents arrested a Massachusetts man July 18 in connection with an ongoing investigation of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Over the course of the past four years, the defendant is alleged to have been responsible for the manufacturing of over 200 kilograms of counterfeit pills. The ongoing investigation is led by FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force with assistance from HSI Boston’s Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST).

Schuyler Oppenheimer, aka SK, aka Michael Sylvain, 33, of Cambridge, was charged with possession of 500 grams and more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and two counts of wire fraud. The defendant appeared in U.S. District Court and was detained pending further court hearings.

“The sprawling manufacturing of illegal drugs alleged in this case is as dangerous as it is appalling. It is alleged that Mr. Oppenheimer illegally manufactured hundreds of kilograms of lethal drugs in order to continue to saturate our streets with deadly drugs,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “Our office is dedicated to stopping the flow of fentanyl into our communities, which, as evidenced by these charges, includes shipments from China. This case is yet another example of the critical collaboration between federal law enforcement partners and the Massachusetts State Police to prevent illegal narcotics from reaching our streets.”

“The FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force has arrested Schuyler Oppenheimer – an alleged large-scale counterfeit pill manufacturer – who’s accused of producing a massive number of pills that looked like regular prescription Adderall or Percocet, but in reality, contained methamphetamine or fentanyl. Each alleged sale was a potentially deadly transaction for customers – or anyone else who stumbled upon these deceptive drugs,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Boston Division. “Drug dealers making money off the misery of others is bad enough, let alone this dangerous bait and switch. Taking Oppenheimer off the street should send a message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners will not cede our cities to drug manufacturers, traffickers, and other violent criminals. We’re working hard every day to make our communities safer.”

“The defendant is accused of crimes that reflect his alleged disregard for the public's safety and wellbeing. He allegedly spearheaded a clandestine lab operation that included evidence of fentanyl production, and bore the potential to destroy countless lives,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of HSI in New England. “HSI New England is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement partners at the state, local, federal levels in confronting the deadly drug epidemic directly and forcefully.”

“Fentanyl and methamphetamine being distributed in the form of fake pills is causing tremendous damage to our community,” said Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA, New England Field Division. “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Massachusetts. The DEA will continue to work each day alongside our law enforcement partners to identify those who are responsible for distributing deadly drugs.”

“Oppenheimer’s sophisticated operation has shown the utter disregard for the people in our communities.” said John Mawn, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police (MSP). “I applaud the tireless work by the members of the MSP and our law enforcement partners assigned to the Task Force. Oppenheimer’s arrest will hopefully make a significant impact to the affected communities and stop the destruction of lives.”

Oppenheimer is alleged to be technically skilled in the chemical processes used in the synthesis of fentanyl, the compounding of controlled substances for distribution, and the manufacturing of counterfeit pills. As alleged in court documents, recipes, pill press molds used in the manufacturing process, documents and invoices demonstrating that Oppenheimer purchased numerous pill presses and parts for pill presses from online vendors were seized. It also alleged multiple packages shipped from China to Oppenheimer and various female associates of Oppenheimer that contained pill press parts, were also seized.

According to court documents, through the review of orders and invoices from companies selling powders and other substances used in the pill manufacturing process, it is alleged that since 2019, Oppenheimer obtained over 200 kilograms of these filler powders. According to the recipes recovered during the investigation, when manufactured into counterfeit pills, 200 kilograms of filler powder equates to millions of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Additionally, Oppenheimer is alleged to have communicated directly with an illegal chemical supplier based in China. During this conversation, Oppenheimer allegedly inquired about the availability of controlled substances and fentanyl precursor chemicals and sought to purchase kilogram quantities of these substances. Fentanyl precursor chemicals are substances that can be used to synthesize raw fentanyl in a laboratory setting. It is alleged that Oppenheimer sought to synthesize his own fentanyl through the importation of these fentanyl precursor chemicals.

Oppenheimer is also alleged to have obtained over $40,000 through two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications that were submitted in April 2021 over the internet. Oppenheimer is also alleged to have submitted false statements concerning his income through self-employment for the 2019 tax years and provided false tax return documents substantiating that income.

During the execution of a search warrant on Parker Street in Cambridge, over five kilograms of suspected counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and a loaded firearm were seized. Based on prior felony convictions, Oppenheimer is prohibited from possessing firearms.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine provides for a sentence of at least ten years and up to life in prison, five years and up to life of supervised release and a fine of up to $10,000,000. The charge of wire fraud provided for a maximum penalty of up to 20 years, up to three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy; FBI SAC Cohen; DEA Acting SAC Belleau; HSI SAC Krol; Jennifer B. De La O, Director of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Interim Colonel Mawn, Jr. of the MSP made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Cambridge Police Department.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

The primary mission of HSI’s BEST teams is to combat transnational criminal organizations by employing federal, state, local, tribal and international law enforcement authorities and resources to identify, investigate, disrupt and dismantle these organizations at every level of operation. BESTs eliminate the barriers between federal and local investigations and close the gap with international partners in multinational criminal investigations.

BESTs serve as an important tool to combat transnational criminal organizations engaged in drug trafficking, human smuggling, weapons trafficking, and money laundering. There are over 90 BESTs throughout the United States and its territories, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.