A 31-year-old Lawrence man pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boston on drug-related charges following an investigation that began last summer in Methuen.
Joshua Morales pleaded guilty to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute. U.S. Senior District Court Judge Patti B. Saris scheduled sentencing for June 12. In a statement, Methuen police said, the department worked last August in conjunction with a federal task force conducting an investigation into a narcotics operation in the city.
“As a result of the investigation, police conducted a search of a home in Methuen that was an alleged drug distribution and manufacturing location. During the search, police seized several kilograms of counterfeit pills and numerous drug paraphernalia items. A subsequent search of a vehicle yielded an additional 10,000 illegal pills,” police said.
U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley’s office said Morales was seen entering into a Methuen home and leaving with a large orange bag. He then drove to a location in Lawrence, where he was arrested. The pills took the form of counterfeit Percocet and were believed to contain fentanyl.