Dominican National Sentenced for Role in Large-Scale Heroin Trafficking Organization

BOSTON – A Dominican national previously residing in Springfield was sentenced on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, in federal court in Springfield for his role in a large-scale heroin trafficking organization.

Juan Perez, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 30 months in prison and five years of supervised. Perez will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In July 2019, Perez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin. Perez and 17 co-defendants were indicted on heroin conspiracy charges in August 2017.

Perez worked with Alberto Marte, the leader of the Springfield-based drug trafficking organization, to distribute vast amounts of heroin in the Springfield area. Perez admitted to travelling to Bronx, N.Y. with Marte and other members of the organization where they purchased three kilograms of heroin, which they intended to distribute in Springfield.  Agents seized the heroin on Sept. 22, 2016, when they searched a vehicle on Marte’s property. 

The Marte drug trafficking organization had direct contact with heroin supply sources in the Dominican Republic. On a monthly basis, members of the organization transported between eight and 20 kilograms of heroin to the Springfield area.

Marte and 11 other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Jason Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni; Colonel Christopher Mason, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood; Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb; Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo; and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil Desroches of Lelling’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the cases.