Warren B. Rudman United States Courthouse, Concord, N.H.
A 42-year-old Haverhill man, one of six indicted by a federal grand jury on drug-related charges in 2015, was sentenced to serve 14 years in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and cocaine.
Franklyn Morillo, who pleaded guilty last October, worked with others to distribute the drugs in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Acting New Hampshire U.S. Attorney John J. Farley said Monday. More than $18,000 in cash and a quantity of cocaine were seized from Morillo’s Haverhill home after a search warrant was issued during August of 2015. He was arrested Oct. 1 that year, according to court documents, when police also seized. oxycodone pills and more than $2,000 in cash.
“All too often, the road to heroin or fentanyl addiction begins with the misuse of oxycodone pills,” Farley said. “Those who profit from the illicit sales of these pills are contributing to the opioid crisis in the Granite State. We will continue to devote our efforts to putting drug distributors out of business,” he added.
Farley said the prosecution of Morillo and his associates came after a lengthy investigation that included purchases of drugs by cooperating individuals, surveillance, wiretaps and search warrants. The investigation showed the group was responsible for the distribution of thousands of oxycodone pills and several kilograms of cocaine.
Besides Morillo, others who have pleaded guilty in the case are Mara Morillo, 41, Juan Rojas, 32, and Jorge Medina, 25, all of Haverhill; Justin Bartimus, 36, formerly of Methuen, and Michael Lally, 29, of Salem, N.H.
This case was supported by the federal Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad led the investigation with help from Haverhill and Methuen Police and Massachusetts State Police.
Pretty Sad – as a high schooler I used to play basketball against he and his boys most Saturday nights at the YMCA. Most of his crew moved on and have done very well for themselves, clearly he didn’t make smart decisions like the rest. Such a waste.
Meanwhile, the manufacturers of those pills profit from the death and destruction. They donate millions via campaign and lobbying while cities like Haverhill are destroyed. Politicans put a fraction of money into so-called treatment in the budget, while the #BigPharma opiate manufactures pay millions more into political coffers to keep the status quo. Open borders keep the illicit synthetics pouring into this country just to keep up with the demand.
The failed war on drugs continues, but it remains extremely profitable for the few.
14 years is too long
I agree. I’m sure they had addictions of their own. While pedos and others get away with little or no jail time.