Joshua S. Levy, U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts
A Lawrence man has admitted guilt in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, joining two others who had previously entered guilty pleas. Leonardo Lara, 44, confessed to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances involving five kilograms or more of cocaine. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs has set his sentencing for May 29, 2025.
Co-defendants Merced Navarro Morfin, 44, from Lunenberg, and Leandro Martinez, 43, from Lawrence, had earlier pleaded guilty to the same conspiracy charge. Navarro Morfin also admitted guilt to an additional count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Sentencing for Navarro Morfin is scheduled for May 6, 2025, while Martinez's sentencing will occur on May 7, 2025.
The trio was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 3, 2023. The investigation revealed that in April 2022, Lara possessed $230,000 in drug proceeds intended for Mexico. On April 20 of that year, he was stopped on Interstate-84 in Sturbridge where approximately $40,000 was found hidden in baby-wipe containers in his car trunk. Shortly after this stop concluded, Martinez and Navarro Morfin were seen at Lara’s residence removing eight kilograms of cocaine. Another kilogram of cocaine and about $196,000 in cash were discovered in their vehicle.
The charge concerning five kilograms or more of cocaine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment along with at least five years of supervised release and fines reaching $10 million. Other charges could result in up to twenty years imprisonment with at least three years supervised release and fines up to $1 million. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Stephen Belleau from the Drug Enforcement Administration announced these developments with support from the Massachusetts State Police. Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel R. Feldman and Katherine Ferguson are prosecuting the case.
This case is part of efforts by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which targets high-level criminal organizations through a coordinated approach involving multiple agencies.
