CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Miguel Arias Velasquez, 22, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison for participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
According to documents filed with the court and statements made during the sentencing hearing, between approximately January 2017 and July 6, 2017, Arias-Velasquez made deliveries of heroin and fentanyl to customers of a drug organization working out of a residence on Water Street in Lawrence. Customers would call to order drugs and Arias-Velasquez and others would drive to locations in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to deliver the drugs. Arias-Velasquez and his coconspirators were arrested in July of 2017.
Arias Velasquez pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on May 8, 2018. He is likely to be deported to the Dominican Republic after serving his sentence.
“Those who choose to sell heroin or fentanyl in New Hampshire will be prosecuted aggressively," said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We work each day with our law enforcement partners to protect our community by putting drug dealers out of business. Those who seek to profit from the sale of these deadly drugs will be targeted for arrest, prosecution and sentencing. This case is a product of that cooperative effort by law enforcement."
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with an opioid crisis unlike ever before," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “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 will aggressively pursue Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners."
This matter was investigated by the DEA, the Massachusetts State Police, the United States Marshals Service, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Donald A. Feith prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
