A Woodbridge man tied to a large fentanyl and cocaine distribution operation in Northern Virginia will spend more than two decades behind bars.
Jorge Ariel Pereira, 30 — also known as “Jae Luca” and “Kevin Aguirre” — was sentenced in federal court in Alexandria to 21 years and five months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine and fentanyl.
Federal prosecutors say Pereira was deeply involved in a regional drug network that moved fentanyl pills, cocaine, and marijuana throughout Prince William County and surrounding areas beginning in late 2020.
Fake Oxycodone Pills Flooding the Area
Court records show Pereira helped redistribute blue fentanyl pills stamped “30”, designed to look like legitimate 30-milligram oxycodone tablets. Those counterfeit pills have become a major driver of overdose deaths across the country because users often believe they are taking prescription medication.
Investigators say Pereira worked closely with Justice Ansah, 30, of Manassas, and Salvador Paredes Vasquez to distribute the drugs.
Authorities say Ansah ran a stash house in Woodbridge, where large shipments of narcotics were stored after being shipped in from suppliers outside the region.
At one point in December 2021, Pereira took possession of roughly 20,000 fentanyl pills while Ansah moved other narcotics to different locations.
Massive Fentanyl Seizure
The operation began to unravel on Dec. 14, 2021, when law enforcement arrested Ansah and Paredes.
Investigators recovered:
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Approximately 70,000 fentanyl pills inside the stash house and Ansah’s residence
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Another 30,000 fentanyl pills that were on their way through the mail to Paredes’ address
Despite those arrests, prosecutors say Pereira continued trafficking drugs with new associates.
Continued Drug Trafficking
Authorities say Pereira later worked with Fernando Alexis Orellana Banegas, 25, of Woodbridge, and Dan Benedict Galvez, 25, of Manassas, distributing fentanyl pills and cocaine.
Investigators say Pereira also relied on fraudulent identification cards to rent property and obtain vehicles used in the operation.
On Jan. 2, 2025, law enforcement arrested Pereira and searched his home. During the search, officers recovered:
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608 grams of cocaine
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A loaded handgun
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Fraudulent identification cards
Because Pereira is a convicted felon — with prior convictions including grand larceny, brandishing a firearm, and obtaining money by false pretenses — he is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Co-Conspirators Already Sentenced
Several other people connected to the drug network have already been sentenced:
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Justice Ansah pleaded guilty in June 2022 and was sentenced to 21 years in prison.
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Fernando Alexis Orellana Banegas pleaded guilty in May 2024 and received 15 years in prison.
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Dan Benedict Galvez pleaded guilty in August 2025 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Meanwhile, Salvador Paredes Vasquez, charged in 2022 with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, remains a fugitive.
A Persistent Threat in Northern Virginia
The case highlights the continued spread of counterfeit fentanyl pills in Northern Virginia — pills that often look nearly identical to legitimate prescription medication but can contain deadly doses of fentanyl.
Federal investigators say the dismantling of this network removed tens of thousands of fentanyl pills from the region’s streets.