Crime

Man Charged in Crash That Killed Endicott College Police Sgt. in Superior Court Feb. 28

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The 40-year-old man, charged in the wrong-way crash that killed an Endicott College police sergeant last Thanksgiving, will be arraigned at the end of the month in Essex County Superior Court. Keoma Duarte of New Bedford faces charges of manslaughter while driving under the influence in connection with the crash that killed Endicott College Police Sgt. Jeremy Cole. Duarte pled not guilty to all charges at his original arraignment last Dec. 3 in Newburyport District Court, but the case moves to Superior Court Friday, Feb.

Crime

Haverhill Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Claim

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A 42-year-old Haverhill man recently pleaded guilty to making false statements in connection with a Massachusetts Pandemic Unemployment Assistance claim he submitted in 2020 on behalf of a man who was living in Brazil at the time, and therefore ineligible to receive such benefits. Julio Roncaly Morais, who was indicted by a federal grand jury last June, pleaded guilty to false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs scheduled sentencing for May 28. According to court documents, Morais filed a state pandemic benefits claim June 3, 2020, on behalf of an unnamed man who was living in Brazil before and after the claim was filed. In the application, Morais allegedly certified under penalty of perjury that the other person was a resident and able and available to work in Massachusetts, but was unable to due to the pandemic.

Crime

Judge Sentences Methuen Resident, 56, to Two Years in Prison; Man Illegally Re-Entered U.S.

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A 56-year-old Methuen resident, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced this week in U.S. District Court in Boston to two years in prison for illegally returning to the United States after deportation. Santos Guzman was convicted in 2019 of two state drug dealing charges and ordered to leave the country. Besides this week’s prison order, U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper sentenced Guzman to three years of supervised release and will also be subject to deportation. In November 2024, he pleaded guilty to illegal reentry after being indicted by a federal grand jury during December of 2021. Guzman was deported to the Dominican Republic Jan.

Crime

NH State Police Charge Two Methuen Men with Alleged Drug Possession

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Two Methuen men were arrested Monday after a traffic stop on Interstate 95 led to the discovery of alleged fentanyl, cocaine and an altered firearm hidden inside a vehicle. New Hampshire State Troopers arrested 23-year-old Frandy Arias Zapata and 24-year-old Eduardo Garcia on charges of possession of a narcotic drug with intent to distribute. Troopers report finding approximately 350 grams of fentanyl, approximately 75 grams of cocaine and a firearm with an altered serial number after pulling the driver over for alleged speeding on I-95 in Portsmouth. New Hampshire State Police Narcotics Investigations Unit said additional charges may be coming. Zapata and Garcia were released on personal recognizance bail pending an arraignment scheduled for Monday, March 24, in Portsmouth District Court.

Crime

Haverhill Man, 29, Pleads Guilty to Selling Illegal Drugs and Firearms

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A 29-year-old Haverhill man pleaded guilty Monday in federal court in Boston to selling cocaine and illegal firearms in and around the Boston area. Cordell Miller pleaded guilty to distribution of, and possession with intent to distribute, cocaine; aiding and abetting and trafficking in firearms and conspiracy to do so. U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young scheduled sentencing for May 7. Miller was arrested and charged in November 2023 along with Malcolm Desir and Alan Robinson. Prosecutors said Miller was identified as a firearms and ammunition trafficker in the metro Boston area.

Crime

Plaistow Police, Fire Marshal’s Office Arrest Man Alleged to Be Connected with Condo Explosion

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A 40-year-old Plaistow, N.H., man was arrested yesterday in connection with an explosion at a Westville Road condominium complex last Nov. 10. Derek John Blanchette was arrested and charged with alleged reckless conduct, use of a deadly weapon; endangering the welfare of a child; falsifying physical evidence; acts prohibited, involving ketamine; and acts prohibited, involving methylenedioxymethamphetamine. According to a release from Plaistow Police Chief John J. Santoro, the Plaistow Police Department with investigators of the Office of the State Fire Marshall served the arrest warrant. It followed their investigation of an explosion last Nov.

Crime

Lawrence Mayor, NH Governor Seek Ways to Attack Illicit Drug Trade Together

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New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte met Monday with Lawrence Mayor Brian A. DePeña to discuss how the city and the State of New Hampshire can work together to combat cross-border crime and drug trafficking. After the meeting, Ayotte previewed additional resources in her proposed budget to target the criminal pipeline between Lawrence and New Hampshire alongside law enforcement officers from both New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker. “I am thankful for Mayor DePeña’s willingness to address the dangerous flow of drugs and criminal activity occurring between Lawrence and our state,” Ayotte said. “The more we work together, the safer all our communities will be. With additional resources targeted at this pipeline, we will strengthen our fight against the trafficking of deadly drugs like fentanyl and lock up those who are bringing this poison and crime to our communities.”

DePeña added, “The crises of drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human exploitation and gang violence continue to devastate families across both Massachusetts and New Hampshire—threats that recognize no borders and spare no community.

Crime

Lawrence Man Faces Gun, Fentanyl and Cocaine Charges After Methuen and Fed Investigation

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A Lawrence man was arraigned Wednesday on drug and gun charges following an investigation by the Methuen Police Street Crimes Unit and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Essex County District Attorney Paul F. Tucker’s office said 36-year-old Kelvin Alvarez-Pimentel was arraigned in Essex County Superior Court in Salem on drug trafficking and firearms violation charges. Alvarez-Pimentel, who pled not guilty to all charges, is charged with trafficking in more than 36 grams of fentanyl, two counts of trafficking in cocaine—more than 18 grams in powdered form and more than 36 grams in crack form, and possession of a firearm without a firearm identification card. He was arrested Oct. 31 at his Lawrence home following an investigation.