Cambridge man arrested, accused of ‘large-scale’ counterfeit pill manufacturing

“Each alleged sale was a potentially deadly transaction for customers – or anyone else who stumbled upon these deceptive drugs.”

A Cambridge man was arrested last week and is facing drug charges in what authorities say was a into “large-scale” counterfeit pill manufacturing scheme.

Schuyler Oppenheimer, also known as “SK” or “Michael Sylvain,” was arrested on Thursday by the FBI’s North Shore Gang Task Force in connection with an ongoing investigation into counterfeit pills that contain fentanyl and methamphetamine, according to the office of acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy. Prosecutors allege that, over the last four years, he was responsible for manufacturing more than 200 kilograms of counterfeit pills.

Investigators said the pills looked like prescription Adderall or Percocet but contained methamphetamine or fentanyl. More than five kilograms of the counterfeit pills were seized when a search warrant was executed on Parker Street in Cambridge in connection with the investigation, Levy’s office said.

Oppenheimer has been 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.

He is being held pending additional court hearings, according to prosecutors.

“Each alleged sale was a potentially deadly transaction for customers – or anyone else who stumbled upon these deceptive drugs,” Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, said in a statement. “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.”

Prosecutors allege that recipes, pill press molds, and documents showing Oppenheimer purchased the parts for manufacturing the pills were seized during the investigation.

“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,” Levy’s office said in a statement. “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.”

Oppenheimer allegedly communicated with an illegal chemical supplier based in China, asking about the availability of controlled substances and fentanyl precursor chemicals that could be used to synthesize raw fentanyl, Levy’s office said.

Prosecutors allege he sought to purchase “kilogram quantities” of the precursor materials and synthesize his own fentanyl.

Oppenheimer is also accused of obtaining more than $40,000 through two fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program loan applications in 2021.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine can result in 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, according to Levy’s office. A charge of wire fraud can result in a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.