45 Charged in Mass., New Hampshire Fentanyl Trafficking Ring

CONCORD, NH - Almost four dozen people, including 20 from Lawrence, Mass., were charged in connection with a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, the New England Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced today.

According to a DEA release, the indictments are the culmination of a year-long investigation by the DEA in coordination with federal, state, and local authorities in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine.

The charges stem from two coordinated operations involving over 100 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers with a raid occurring on Apr. 9. According to a release, the DEA and local agencies executed several search warrants at the alleged base of operations of the Martinez brothers, Sergio and Raulin in Lawrence, MA.

According to the DEA, the drug trafficking organization led by the Martinez brothers, Sergio and Raulin was "vast and well organized."

"The Martinez brothers allegedly used a vast network of dispatchers and distributors to serve customers large and small with knowledge that a substantial amount of drugs were going to New Hampshire," the press release reads. "They allegedly maintained a residence in Lawrence, Massachusetts, staffed by dispatchers who took drug orders over various “customer phones.” This residence was called “the base.” Dispatchers allegedly then communicated with distributors located throughout the Merrimack Valley to arrange for customers to meet them."

The DEA report alleges the Martinez brothers employed individuals responsible for making sure distributors were consistently supplied with 200-gram bags of fentanyl and were returning drug proceeds made from the sales.

During the raid, agents seized 30 kilograms of suspected fentanyl, two firearms, and over $500,000 in cash.

Prior to the raid, on Apr. 4, the following individuals were charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl:

• Sergio Martinez, 28, of Lawrence, MA;
• Raulin Martinez, 36, of Lawrence, MA;
• Luz Perez DeMartinez, 25, of Lawrence, MA;
• Jhonny Jose Naut Perez, 53, of Lawrence, MA;
• Suhey Perez, 38, of Lawrence, MA;
• Wagner Pimentel, 28, of Methuen, MA;
• Luis Angel Polanco Huma, 22, of Lawrence, MA;
• Eduard Amparo, 46, of Lawrence, MA;
• Frailin Manuel Gomez Gil, 26, of Lawrence, MA;
• Julio Pizzini, 24, of Lawrence, MA;
• Jepherson Emmanuel Cabrera, 18, of Lawrence, MA;
• Edward Brailey Delacruz, 24, of Methuen, MA;
• Luis Antonio Salomon Polanco, 20, of Lawrence, MA;
• Juan Rafael Tejeda-Jimenez, 27, of Lawrence, MA;
• Fernand V. Miranda, 23, of Haverhill, MA;
• Alexander Noonan, 20, of Haverhill, MA;
• Steven Guerrero, 18, of Lawrence, MA;
• Jared Ortega-Peguero, 25, of Lawrence, MA;
• Juan Dimel Gil Castillo, 23, of Lawrence, MA;
• Ramon Gill Huma, 25, of Lawrence, MA;
• Julio Colon, 24, of Lawrence, MA;
• Jason Cheever, 41, of Goffstown, NH;
• Joshua Smith, 29, of Plaistow, NH;
• Paul Aaron, 31, of Lowell, MA;
• Steven Lessard, 31, of Lowell, MA;
• Miguel Alvarez, 27, of Haverhill, MA;
• Edward Brito, 31, of Lawrence, MA;
• Trevor Ahearn, 28, of Haverhill, MA;
• Julio Saldana, 18, of Lawrence, MA;
• Jesus Rivera, 20, of Lawrence, MA; and
• Jorge Rodriguez, 21, of Methuen, MA.

According to the DEA, seven of the 31 charged were already incarcerated and two have since been located. Police are still searching for Jhonny Jose Naut Perez, Frailin Manuel Gomez Gil, Jepherson Emmanuel Cabrera, Edward Brailey Delacruz, Alexander Noonan, Jason Cheever, and Joshua Smith.

If convicted, each of these defendants faces a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, as well as a fine of up to $10 million.

On Apr. 18, the government charged the following individuals were charged in related indictments with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl:

• Meghan Bowers, 30, of Candia, NH;
• Dennis Chaney, 30, of Rochester, NH;
• David Fagan, 32, of Manchester, NH;
• Jonathan Felch, 36, of Goffstown, NH;
• Albert Gordon, 44, of Manchester, NH;
• Norman Limoges, 51, of Berlin, NH;
• Leon Mandigo, 31, of Auburn, NH;
• Robert McLain, 26, of Groveton, NH;
• Alicia Morin, 30, of Belmont, NH;
• Samuel Morris, 28, of Belmont, NH;
• Amy Reardon, 32, of North Haverhill, NH;
• Darlene Tirone, 42, of Hampton, NH; and
• Meredith Willey, 37, of Groveton, NH.

As of Tuesday, the release said, 12 of of 13 were in custody with Leon Mandigo remaining at large.

If convicted, most of the defendants charged on August 18, 2018, also face a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, as well as a fine of up to $10 million.

Limoges, Reardon, and Willey face a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 40 years, as well as a fine of up to $5 million. Bowers and Gordon face a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

“Fentanyl is responsible for the lion’s share of overdose deaths in the Granite State,” said United States Attorney Scott W. Murray . “The law enforcement community in New England is united in the effort to end the opioid crisis. This investigation is just one example of our commitment to stopping the distribution of fentanyl in New Hampshire. Public safety is our top priority and we will continue to work hard each day to protect our communities by identifying and prosecuting those who are responsible for distributing fentanyl and other deadly drugs.”

“The Granite State is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before and DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic,” said DEA Acting Special Agent in Charge Albert Angelucci. “DEA is committed to aggressively pursuing Drug Trafficking Organizations who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison to the citizens of New Hampshire in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county, state and federal law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”