A Brockton man who owns JP Auto Body and Auto Repair on Ceylon Street in Dorchester’s Grove Hall is facing federal drug charges after allegedly attempting to purchase 15 kilograms of cocaine from undercover agents in a sting operation.
Jose Perez, 47, was arrested last week and remains in custody pending a detention hearing in U.S. District Court in Boston. According to federal investigators, Perez came to the attention of the DEA in May after another individual, reportedly unable to finance a large cocaine purchase, introduced him to undercover agents posing as drug suppliers. Perez allegedly assured the agents he could raise $80,000 to $90,000 for an initial buy and sent a photograph of stacked $20 and $100 bills as proof.
On May 6, Perez met with the agents at a Starbucks in Somerville, where he allegedly expressed interest in buying at least 15 kilograms to “make it worth it.” He also reportedly indicated that, if the first transaction proceeded smoothly, he could eventually purchase up to 100 kilograms (about 220 pounds) at a time. In the following weeks, Perez and the agents continued to communicate, including a meeting at a McDonald’s in Revere to confirm the arrangement.
By early June, Perez was informed by the agents that the shipment was crossing the Mexican border and would soon arrive in the Boston area. The deal was scheduled for June 11 in Framingham. Surveillance teams followed Perez that day as he left his Brockton home, dropped off a child at school, stopped briefly at his auto body shop, and then drove to the meeting location. There, he allegedly handed over a cash bundle marked “150K” in exchange for what he believed were 15 kilograms of cocaine. The packages were later revealed to be fake, and Perez was arrested at the scene.
