Dominican National Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking

BOSTON – A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to heroin trafficking.

Alexander Martinez-Peguero, 38, who resided in Lawrence, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for May 5, 2020. In January 2019, Alexander was charged along with his brother, Angel Martinez-Peguero, 27, who is pending trial.

According to the charging documents, on Dec. 20, 2018, investigators seized nearly one kilogram of heroin from the Martinez-Peguero brothers during a law enforcement operation in Lawrence. Investigators also seized a loaded semi-automatic pistol from Angel Martinez-Peguero’s waistband upon his arrest.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin 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 $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’s New England Division; and Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, made the announcement. 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 remaining defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.