The case of a Haverhill man, accused of selling tens of thousands of pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, has been upgraded after he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston.
The U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston said Friday that 34-year-old Angel Joel Diaz, also known as “Guero,” was indicted for distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, two counts of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and methadone.
As WHAV previously reported, Diaz was arrested and charged by criminal complaint on Feb. 15. The day before, he allegedly sent a photograph of suspected fentanyl pills to an undercover officer saying, “even making it with a mask makes you want to vomit and everything.”
He was arrested, police said, while carrying a shopping bag of approximately 31,800 fentanyl pills separated into seven plastic bags. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston, police found at Diaz’s home a pill press with powder residue on it, thousands of pills, pill stamps, several masks and loose powder of various colors, approximately 5,000 suspected fentanyl pills in a heat-sealed bag, suspected fentanyl powder and chemicals used in manufacturing pills and a second pill press in the garage.
An investigation began into Diaz’s fentanyl pill manufacturing and distribution operation this past January when an undercover officer contacted him posing as a potential drug customer seeking to purchase counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl.
The following day, according to court documents, Diaz provided the undercover officer with 208 fentanyl pills weighing approximately 26 grams. Half of the pills allegedly contained methamphetamine in addition to fentanyl. During the meeting, Diaz allegedly told the officer he manufactures his own fentanyl pills, which he distributes in Lawrence and Boston as well as in New York via mail shipments.
Following a search of Diaz’s Haverhill residence, police seized two pill presses, thousands of pills, pill stamps, several masks, loose powder of various colors and suspected fentanyl powder and chemicals used in manufacturing pills.