Manchester Man Convicted of Participating in Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

             CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that on Thursday a federal jury found Alfredo Gonzalez, 50, of Manchester, New Hampshire, guilty of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin. 

            Evidence presented at the trial established that Gonzalez was a Manchester-based heroin trafficker who purchased heroin from a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization run by Alberto Guerrero Marte.  The trial evidence proved that Gonzalez negotiated deals to obtain at least 1.4 kilograms of heroin in June and July 2016.  On July 10, 2016, surveillance agents followed Gonzalez from Manchester to a restaurant in Lawrence, where Gonzalez met Marte and others to conduct a deal for 500 grams of heroin.  A law enforcement officer later stopped a vehicle operated by a runner for Gonzalez and seized 504.4 grams of heroin.       

            Gonzalez is scheduled to be sentenced on February 16, 2018.

The trial of Gonzalez concludes the prosecutions of all but one of those arrested in October 2016 following an investigation into a large heroin trafficking operation.  Alberto Guerrero Marte, 38, pleaded guilty to a heroin trafficking conspiracy charge and was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison.  Michell DeJesus, 34, Luis Rodriguez Lugo, 34, Maria Miguelina Lara, 33, Jonaly Dejesus, 22, Allan Raymond Pimentel, 21, Santo Rodolfo Garcia Mendez, 33, Wilkin Andres Beltre Arias, 39, Edward Garcia, 31, and Luis Colon, 30, all have entered guilty pleas and are awaiting sentencing.  Allison DeJesus, age 19, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years of probation.

            One remaining defendant, Pedro Carlos Vicente Guerrero, 48 is scheduled for trial in February of 2018.  Two other defendants, Santos Guerrero Morillo, 37, and Heibrahim DelValle Baez, 33, are fugitives.

            “The conviction of this significant heroin trafficker is an example of the ongoing efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to stop the distribution of heroin and other drugs in New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Farley.  “While those who are battling addiction need access to treatment, people like this defendant who seek to profit from selling heroin will be prosecuted aggressively.  I salute the hard work of the DEA and our law enforcement partners.  Their quick action in seizing this large quantity of heroin prevented the defendant from selling this deadly substance to the citizens of New Hampshire.”

            “Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels across New England and those suffering from 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 and fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions.  DEA is committed to aggressively pursue Drug Trafficking Organizations or individuals who are coming from out of state to distribute these poisons in order to profit and destroy people’s lives.  In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic DEA and its local, state and federal partners are committed to bringing to justice anyone who distributes these drugs.”

             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.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.

            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.  

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