Lawrence Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Participating in a Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl

            CONCORD – Santo Benito Lara, 48, of Lawrence, Massachusetts was sentenced on Monday to 120 months in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.  Lara was convicted by a federal jury on May 10, 2019.

            Evidence presented during the four-day trial showed that beginning at least in May of 2018, the defendant participated in a conspiracy to sell fentanyl to a customer in Salem, New Hampshire.  After the DEA received information about the conspiracy, it began an investigation into the Lara's activities.  Between May and September of 2018, Lara and another individual sold fentanyl in Lawrence to a cooperating individual on multiple occasions.

            Lara will likely face removal from the United States after serving his sentence. 

            “Drug traffickers who come to New Hampshire to sell fentanyl are endangering the lives of our state’s residents,” said U.S. Attorney Farley.  “This ten-year sentence demonstrates that those who sell fentanyl in the Granite State will be held accountable for their unlawful conduct.  We will continue to work closely with the DEA and all our law enforcement partners to protect public safety by identifying and prosecuting the drug dealers who seek to profit from selling deadly substances in New Hampshire.”

            This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police and the Essex County (MA) Sheriff’s Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Dronzek and Jarad Hodes.

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