Citizen of Dominican Republic Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Heroin Trafficking

             CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Jose De La Altagracia Pimentel Lara, a/k/a Luis Colon. a/k/a Jose Pimentel, a/k/a Todolindo, a/k/a El Lindon. a/k/a Lindy, 26, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to serve 63 months in federal prison for participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy.

            Documents filed with the court established that Pimentel Lara participated in a drug trafficking organization that distributed heroin in Massachusetts and New Hampshire between July 2016 and September 2016.  While participating in the conspiracy, the defendant obtained heroin from the drug trafficking organization and delivered it to his customers. 

            The defendant previously pleaded guilty on September 8, 2017, to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, heroin.   

            “The drug problem in New Hampshire is worsened by those who seek to profit from the addictions of others,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are responsible for distributing the drugs that are endangering our community.”

            “Those suffering from the disease of opioid addiction need access to treatment and recovery,” said Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.  “But, those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like heroin to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions.  DEA and its local, state and federal partners are committed to bringing to justice those that distribute this poison.”

            The prosecution of Pimentel Lara was part of a larger DEA investigation seeking to combat heroin distribution in New Hampshire.  Other defendants also have been convicted for their involvement in this drug trafficking organization.  Alberto Guerrero Marte, 38, received a 15-year sentence, Toribio Guerrero Marte, 32, received a 10-year sentence, Allison DeJesus, 19, received a sentence of five years of probation, Jonaly DeJesus, 22, received a sentence of time served and five years of supervised release, and Allan Raymond Pimentel, 21, received a sentence of 57 months in prison.  Alfredo Gonzalez, 51, Michell DeJesus, 34, Maria Miguelina Lara Lara, 33, Santo Rodolfo Garcia Mendez, 33, Wilkin Andres Beltre Arias, 39, and Edward Garcia, 31, are all awaiting sentencing.    In a related case, Mark Gagnon, 54, of Candia, was sentenced to 48 months in prison.

            This matter was investigated by the DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; the Massachusetts State Police; the Haverhill Police Department; the United States Marshals Service; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; the Lawrence Police Department; the Lowell Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Drug Task Force.  Assistant United States Attorney Donald Feith prosecuted the case.

            This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

###