Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty to Opioid Trafficking Conspiracy

BOSTON – A Haverhill man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to his role in an opioid trafficking conspiracy involving the distribution of fentanyl, heroin, and oxycodone across Massachusetts and Florida.

Jesus Gonzalez, 23, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin and/or 40 grams of fentanyl, one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Aug. 2, 2018.

Gonzalez was arrested along with several co-defendants in March 2017 for their roles in a widespread conspiracy involving opioid trafficking and money laundering offenses in Massachusetts and Florida. According to the charging documents, from at least 2014, Gonzalez obtained heroin and fentanyl from sources in Massachusetts and conspired with others to distribute the narcotics, including approximately 230 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl in November 2015. Gonzalez also participated in a conspiracy to obtain oxycodone pills from Florida, have them shipped to Massachusetts, and then distributed in Massachusetts. Finally, Gonzalez participated in a conspiracy to launder and conceal the proceeds of the sale of narcotics by using funnel bank accounts to send money to Florida.     

Gonzalez is the final defendant to plead guilty in this case. Darren Infante is scheduled to be sentenced on May 23; Juan Reyes is scheduled to be sentenced on June 20; George Noukas and Moses Rodriguez are scheduled to be sentenced on June 25; Craig Drummond and Gorky Gonzalez are scheduled to be sentenced on July 17; Johnny Urena is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24; and Jenssi Astacio is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2018.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 100 grams of heroin and/or 40 grams of fentanyl provides for a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of $5 million, and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a lifetime of supervised release, a fine of up to $1 million, and forfeiture. The charge of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, up to five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $500,000, or twice the value of the property laundered, and forfeiture. 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; Albert Angelucci, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation in Boston; Raymond Moss, Acting Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; John Gibbons, U.S. Marshal for the District of Massachusetts; and Mickey D. Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts State Police and the Biddeford (Maine), Framingham, Haverhill, Lawrence, Manchester (N.H.), Methuen, Millis, Natick, Stoughton, and Waltham Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nadine Pellegrini and Craig Estes of Lelling’s Office are prosecuting the cases.