Holyoke Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin

BOSTON - A Holyoke man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Springfield to distributing heroin.

Angel Baez, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution and possession with intent to distribute heroin. U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni scheduled sentencing for March 1, 2018.

Baez was arrested and charged following a five-month federal law enforcement investigation into drug trafficking in Springfield and Holyoke. Baez possessed and distributed heroin on April 20 and April 26, 2016, in Holyoke. 

According to court documents, Baez has three prior felony convictions in state court: a 2014 conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine; a June 2011 conviction for distributing heroin; and a July 2011 conviction for possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine.

The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, six years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri; and Holyoke Police Chief James M. Neiswanger made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd E. Newhouse of Weinreb’s Springfield Branch Office is prosecuting the case.