Grand Jury Indicts 10 Alleged to be Methuen and Lawrence-Based Drug Dealers Selling in N.H.

Ten people were indicted and seven arrested Wednesday in connection with a Methuen and Lawrence-based group trafficking narcotics in New Hampshire. New Hampshire U.S Attorney Jane Young police arrested seven in New Hampshire and Massachusetts on charges of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine. They are scheduled to appear in federal court at various times this week and next week. Those arrested include a Methuen woman and two Lawrence woman. Fifty-two-year-old Donaida Gonzalez, also known as Yijana Rodriguez, of Methuen; and 43-year-old Diana Bautista-Arias, also known as Alba Cruz-Solano, and 30-year-old Eddy Balbuena-Gomez, both of Lawrence were charged.

Federal Judge Sentences Haverhill Man to 8.5 Years in Prison for Drug Dealing

A 32-year-old Haverhill man was recently sentenced to more than eight years in prison for his role in a North Shore-based drug trafficking organization that allegedly distributed tens of thousands of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. David Delauri was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Dennis F. Saylor IV to 102 months in prison to be followed by four years of supervised release. Last July, Delauri pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, aiding and abetting and possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. According to court documents, the group distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine, among other things, to people in the Lynn area. On May 10, 2022, Delauri allegedly arranged to acquire nearly 600 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine from Lawrence Michael Nagle, who also faces charges.

Haverhill Man, 37, Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon Having Semiautomatic Pistol and Ammunition

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston said Friday a 37-year-old Haverhill man pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Rashad Diggs, also known as “Summers,” is scheduled to be sentenced in January before  U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani. In December 2022 in Revere, Diggs was found with a semiautomatic pistol loaded with over 40 rounds of ammunition and having an obliterated serial number. Due to prior convictions, including for unlawful firearms possession, Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy’s office said, he is prohibited from having firearms or ammunition.

North Andover Convicted Felon Now Faces Federal Gun Charges After July Explosion at His Home

A 64-year-old North Andover man was charged last week in federal court for allegedly being a convicted felon in possession of more than 30 firearms and explosives. Daniel Medina was charged by criminal complaint with unlawful possession of a machine gun, unlawful possession of explosives as a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. As WHAV reported in July, Medina is currently in state custody on related charges and will appear in U.S. District Court in Boston at a later date. Medina, of 59 Village Green Drive, North Andover, was previously charged by the state with five felony counts tied to being a felon in possession of a firearm, possessing and improperly storing an automatic rifle and vandalizing property. He pled not guilty last July in Lawrence District Court.

Judge Sends 23-Year-Old to Prison Three Years for Work as Runner in Methuen-Based Drug Trafficking

A 23-year-old man, at the center of Methuen-based drug trafficking, was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for drug trafficking in New Hampshire

U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Samantha Elliott. Last June, Chevalier Santos pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute and two counts of distributing controlled substances. Charges are still pending against four others, Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez, Eddy Mendez Carmona, Juan Carlos De Los Santos Romero and Luis Guerrero Cabral. “Methamphetamine and fentanyl destroy lives and fuel violence in our communities,” said Young.  “Law enforcement in New Hampshire will continue to be relentless in the pursuit to identify individuals participating in drug trafficking at every layer of the supply chain.”

Santos was part of a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that was distributing significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Seacoast area. He was identified as a “runner,” or a person who makes drug deliveries on behalf of the organization. In early 2024, Santos made at least two deliveries of methamphetamine and fentanyl to undercover police officers, including the delivery of a pound of methamphetamine.

Two Pedestrians Receive Injuries—One Critical—in Separate Haverhill Incidents; Police Allege DWI in One

Two pedestrians were struck by cars and injured in separate incidents Friday and Saturday nights in Haverhill’s Mount Washington neighborhood, leading to one drunken driving arrest in one case and a search for a motorist that fled in the other. The 47-year-old man—struck in Friday’s accident at about 7:15 p.m., near 409 Washington St.—was first taken to a local hospital and then med-flighted to a Burlington-area hospital for treatment and was listed in critical condition.  The driver of a 2012 black Audi, 46-year-old Raymond Guillermo, was arrested a short time later at his Ford Street home and charged with driving while intoxicated and causing serious bodily injury, leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury, carrying a loaded firearm while under the influence of liquor and improper storage of a firearm. Haverhill Deputy Police Chief Stephen J. Doherty Jr. said the investigation is ongoing by the Haverhill Police Traffic and Safety Unit with the assistance of Massachusetts State Police CARS Unit. Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt.

Investigation Underway As Haverhill Elementary Student Makes Purchase with Cocaine-Tainted Bill

Haverhill police and school officials are investigating a Friday incident where an elementary school student used a dollar bill tainted with cocaine to make a purchase. Parents of Golden Hill School were notified the school ordered a stay-in-place after a student was discovered paying for an item at the school store with a dollar bill with white powder on it. Following protocol, a school official said, the police and fire departments were contacted make an assessment. The stay-in-place was lifted after police tested the white powder and it found it to be cocaine. “The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time,” read a statement sent to parents.

North Andover Businessman Pleads Guilty to Using COVID-19 Aid to Buy Diamond Ring, Remodel House

A 41-year-old North Andover businessman pleaded guilty Wednesday to misappropriating COVID-19 relief money for personal use. Jesse Lelievre, who was charged in July, pleaded guilty to theft of government property. U.S. District Court Judge Denise J. Casper scheduled sentencing for Dec. 19. According to court documents, Lelievre was the owner and manager of Paramount Plumbing & Heating.