Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Heroin Inside Plaistow, N.H., Store

U.S. District Court, Concord, N.H. (File photograph.)

A 55-year-old Lawrence man pleaded guilty in federal court to selling heroin and fentanyl inside a Plaistow, N.H., store, among other locations.

Rafael Delacruz, also known as “Simba,” pleaded guilty in federal court to three drug distribution charges, said Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley.

Delacruz sold the drugs in what was described as “hand-to-hand exchanges” with buyers July 8, Oct. 20, and Nov. 19, 2015, inside an unidentified Plaistow retail store. He also admitted to selling fentanyl June 22, 2016, inside an Epping, N.H. store. In each case, the deals were captured in video and recorded by police. In one instance, Farley said, police received video from a store’s security system.

When Delacruz was arrested June 22, 2016, he was found with some of the money he received during a transaction earlier that day. A search of Delacruz’ residence in Lawrence also uncovered $1,000 in cash and a stolen handgun.

Delacruz is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 1. If a plea agreement is accepted by the Court, he will serve 12 years in prison. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Morse.