Dominican Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Fentanyl and Heroin Trafficking

             CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Eris Manuel Paulino Guerrero, also known as Edward Garcia, 28, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced on Monday to serve 87 months in federal prison for drug trafficking offenses.

             Documents filed with the court established that the defendant participated in a Lawrence-based drug trafficking organization (DTO) distributing heroin between June 2013 and October 2014.  Evidence showed that he delivered drugs to customers of the DTO.   In approximately October 2014, the defendant also began selling fentanyl to customers as part of a separate drug distribution network.

            The defendant previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, heroin and distribution of fentanyl.  He faces likely deportation after he serves his sentence.

            The investigation and prosecution of this defendant was part of a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) effort to address heroin distribution in New Hampshire.  In addition to Guerrero’s prosecution, Alberto Guerrero Marte, 38, was sentenced to 15 years, Toribio Guerrero Marte, 34, was sentenced to 10 years, Maria Miguelina Lara, 33, was sentenced to 36 months, Allan Raymond Pimentel, 22, was sentenced to 57 months, Jose De La Altagracia Pimentel Lara, 26, was sentenced to 63 months, Wilkin Andres Beltre Arias, 39, was sentenced to 54 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, and Santo Rodolfo Garcia Mendez, 33, are awaiting sentencing. 

            “The U.S. Attorney’s Office continues to work hand-in-hand with our law enforcement partners to combat the threats posed by fentanyl and heroin,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who seek to profit from the sales of these deadly drugs 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 fentanyl and heroin to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions.  DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county and state law enforcement partners to bring to justice those that distribute this poison.”

            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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