Dominican National Charged With Distributing Fentanyl

BOSTON – A Dominican national was arrested and charged today in federal court in Boston with distributing fentanyl.

Milton Elias Lara, 42, a Dominican national residing in Methuen, was charged with distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Lara appeared in federal court in Boston today and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for July 18, 2019. Lara is also subject to an ICE detainer. 

During the course of an investigation, Lara was identified as a fentanyl distributor operating in the Merrimack Valley. When law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lara’s apartment, they seized approximately 800 grams of fentanyl, 100 grams of cocaine, and drug packaging tools and materials. Lara was subsequently arrested.

The charge of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; and Tewksbury Police Chief Timothy Sheehan made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations and the Andover, Billerica, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, and North Andover Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.