Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Crack and Cocaine Trafficking

BOSTON – A Dominican national living in Lawrence pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in federal court in Boston to trafficking crack and cocaine.

Encebio Esperitusanto, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base (crack cocaine), one count of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and one count of distribution of cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for Aug. 26, 2020.  Esperitusanto has been in federal custody since he was arrested on March 13, 2019.

In November 2018, in Lawrence, Esperitusanto sold crack cocaine to a cooperating source on two occasions. In February 2019, Esperitusanto again arranged for two additional sales of crack and cocaine to the same cooperating source.

The charges of conspiracy to distribute and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years of supervised release and a fine of up to $5 million. The charge of distribution of cocaine carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 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 E. Lelling and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistance was also provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Ferguson and Stephen Hassink of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit are prosecuting the case.