Citizen of Dominican Republic Sentenced to Three Years in Prison for Heroin Trafficking

           CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Santo Rodolfo Garcia Mendez, 33, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts was sentenced on Thursday to serve three years in federal prison for participating in a heroin trafficking conspiracy.

           Documents filed with the court established that Garcia Mendez participated in a Lawrence-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) between April 2016 and September 2016 during which time he delivered drugs to runners who were distributing the drugs to customers of the DTO. 

           Garcia Mendez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, heroin on November 1, 2017.  After completing his sentence, he faces likely deportation to the Dominican Republic.          

           “The law enforcement community in New Hampshire is working together each day to stop the deadly flow of heroin and other drugs into the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who seek to profit from the selling these deadly drugs in our state will be prosecuted aggressively.”

           “Those suffering from the disease of opioid addiction need access to treatment and recovery,” said 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 investigation and prosecution of this defendant were part of a DEA effort to address heroin distribution in New Hampshire.  In addition to the prosecution of Garcia Mendez, Alberto Guerrero Marte, 38, was sentenced to 15 years, Toribio Guerrero Marte, 34, was sentenced to 10 years, Jose De La Altagracia Pimentel Lara, 26, was sentenced to 63 months, Allan Raymond Pimentel, 22, was sentenced to 57 months, Wilkin Andres Beltre Arias, 39, was sentenced to 54 months, Maria Miguelina Lara, 33, was sentenced to 36 months, Allison DeJesus, 19, was sentenced to five years of probation, and Jonaly DeJesus, 22, was sentenced to time served and five years of supervised release.  In a related case, Mark Gagnon, 54, of Candia, was sentenced to 48 months.  Michell DeJesus, 34, is awaiting sentencing. 

           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. 

            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.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald A. Feith.

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