A Dominican national, Raul Fernando Lora, residing in Methuen, has pleaded guilty in a federal court in Boston. The charges include unlawfully re-entering the United States after deportation and possessing narcotics intended for distribution.
Lora, aged 44, admitted to one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and over 40 grams of fentanyl. He also pleaded guilty to unlawful reentry of a deported alien. U.S. District Court Judge Myong J. Joun has scheduled his sentencing for July 16, 2025. Lora faced charges in November 2023.
Previously removed from the U.S. on two occasions—July 2, 2013, and June 5, 2018—Lora had been convicted before his first removal for aggravated identity theft involving the fraudulent use of a Puerto Rican citizen's identity. Additionally, he holds prior convictions related to heroin distribution, firearms offenses, and assault and battery under the stolen identity.
In 2023, federal immigration authorities were alerted to Lora's presence in the U.S., following notification about fingerprints taken concerning criminal charges in New Hampshire and Massachusetts where default warrants were outstanding.
Lora was arrested on October 3, 2023. At that time, he was found with a sock containing over 200 grams of fentanyl and more than 30 grams of cocaine distributed across multiple plastic bags.
The charge for unlawful reentry carries a potential sentence of up to ten years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and fines reaching $250,000. The possession with intent to distribute charge involves a mandatory minimum five-year sentence extending up to forty years imprisonment with at least four years supervised release and similar fines possible. Deportation proceedings will follow any sentence imposed upon Lora’s completion as determined by a federal district court judge guided by U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
This announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley alongside Patricia H. Hyde from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian J. Sullivan is prosecuting this case within the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit.
