BOSTON - Two men pleaded guilty today in federal court in Boston to their roles in a widespread heroin and fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating in Lawrence.
Victor Alexander Gonzalez-Gonzalez, 24, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, and Carlos Hernandez, a/k/a Gordo, 34, of Manchester, N.H., each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine and fentanyl. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Douglas P. Woodlock scheduled sentencing for Gonzalez-Gonzalez for Jan. 25, 2018, and U.S. District Court Judge Denise L. Casper scheduled Hernandez’ sentencing for Jan. 23, 2018.
On May 30, 2017, after a year-long investigation aimed at attacking the fentanyl and heroin crisis in Lawrence and surrounding areas, more than 200 federal, state and local law enforcement officers conducted a drug sweep in order to dismantle two Lawrence-based drug trafficking organizations, one allegedly run by Juan Anibal Patrone, and another allegedly led by Santo Ramon Gonzalez-Nival, who was also a source of supply for Patrone. Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Hernandez were arrested and charged along with Patrone, Gonzalez-Nival, and approximately 30 co-conspirators.
Gonzalez-Gonzalez was a courier for the Patrone organization. When search warrants were executed at his residence, law enforcement officers seized over 400 grams of fentanyl. In addition, law enforcement intercepted thousands of calls between Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Patrone, where Patrone directed him to deliver drugs to customers, and Gonzalez-Gonzalez delivered back to Patrone the money he received from customers.
Hernandez was a redistributor in New Hampshire for the Gonzalez-Nival organization. He was arrested on Feb. 25, 2017, after picking up 12 10-gram units from Gonzalez-Nival’s courier. During a traffic stop shortly thereafter, approximately 120 grams of suspected fentanyl was seized from Hernandez and his passenger, co-defendant Rory Connolly.
Thus far, seven defendants associated with the conspiracy, including Gonzalez-Gonzalez and Hernandez, have pleaded guilty. Patrone, Gonzalez-Nival, and Connolly have pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
The conspiracy charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Gonzalez-Gonzalez will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michal J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division; Matthew J. Etre, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Essex County District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett; Colonel Richard D. McKeon, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; and Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick made the announcement today. The DEA Cross Border Initiative comprised of the DEA and the Andover, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, and Wilmington Police Departments, conducted the investigation jointly with the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Winkler of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the cases.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
