Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Citizen of Dominican Republic Sentenced to 36 Months in Prison for Participating in Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Maria Miguelina Lara Lara, a/k/a Maribel Santiago-Ramos, a/k/a La Cuna, a/k/a Miguelina, 33, of the Dominican Republic was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison for participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy.
Documents filed with the court established that Lara Lara participated in a drug trafficking organization (DTO) between October 2015 and October 2016 during which time she delivered drugs to customers of the DTO on a daily basis. The Lawrence-based organization distributed heroin to customers from Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
The defendant pleaded guilty on July 24, 2017, to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, heroin.
The investigation and prosecution of Lara Lara was part of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) effort to address heroin distribution in New Hampshire. In addition to Lara Lara’s prosecution, Alberto Guerrero Marte, 38, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, his brother Toribio Guerrero Marte was sentenced to 10 years in prison, Allison DeJesus, 19, was sentenced to five years of probation, Jonaly DeJesus, 22, was sentenced to time served and five years of supervised release, Allan Raymond Pimentel, 21, was sentenced to 57 months in prison, and Jose De la Altagracia Pimental Lara a/k/a Luis Colon, 26, was sentenced to 63 months in prison. Michell DeJesus, 34, Santo Rodolfo Garcia Mendez, 33, Wilkin Andres Beltre Arias, 39, and Edward Garcia, 31, are all awaiting sentencing. In a related case, Mark Gagnon, 54, of Candia, was sentenced to 48 months.
“Members of the law enforcement community are working together to stop the flow of heroin and other deadly drugs into New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “While we strongly support access to treatment for those suffering from addiction, those who profit from the distribution of these substances will be prosecuted aggressively.”
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with a fentanyl and heroin crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Those suffering from fentanyl and heroin addiction need treatment and recovery, but those that distribute and profit from spreading this misery need to be held accountable. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal partners and our strong relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“This case is a great example of how close cooperation among federal, state and local law enforcement can successfully complement the overall fight against the devastating opioid epidemic which has tragically destroyed so many lives nationwide and throughout our region,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Mike Shea, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
This matter was investigated by the DEA; HSI; the Massachusetts State Police; the Haverhill Police Department; the United States Marshals Service; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; the Lawrence Police Department; the Lowell Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Donald Feith.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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