Crime

Methuen Man, 61, Faces Federal Charges of Misuse of Social Security, ID Theft

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A 61-year-old Methuen man appeared last week in U.S. District Court in Boston after being charged with misuse of a Social Security number and aggravated identity theft. Victor Urena-Almanzar, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, made his first appearance a week ago Monday in federal court in Boston on May 11. According to court documents, Urena-Almanzar assumed the identity of a United States citizen and obtained multiple Massachusetts identification cards, as well as a United States passport, in the victim’s name. It is alleged that Urena-Almanzar used the fraudulently obtained United States passport to travel internationally between the United States and the Dominican Republic and to obtain a Massachusetts REAL ID identification card. In 2001, Urena-Almanzar pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Crime

Police Charge Plaistow Man, 45, on Alleged Child Porn Charges

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State and Plaistow and Derry, N.H., police arrested a 45-year-old Plaistow, N.H., man Tuesday on charges he allegedly possessed and distributed child sexual abuse images. Edward Enea who, police say, previously used the name Edward Baroffio, was arrested on three counts each of possession and distribution of child sexual abuse images. Members of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, including investigators from the New Hampshire State Police, Derry and Plaistow Police Departments, used a search and arrest warrant in Plaistow following an investigation. The investigation came from information developed by another law enforcement agency and continued with information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline. Enea is currently being held at the Rockingham County Jail and scheduled to appear in Salem District Court today.

Crime

Methuen Man Receives 10-Year Prison Sentence for Drug Dealing, Gun-Related Charges

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A 45-year-old Methuen man was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Boston for trafficking counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition and using a firearm in connection with a drug trafficking offense. Shawn Hart was sentenced by Judge Richard G. Stearns to 10 years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Last October, Hart pleaded guilty to distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, using a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking offense and being a felon in possession of ammunition. Hart was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2023. Prosecutors say Hart was identified in August 2022, as a manufacturer and distributor of counterfeit pills containing controlled substances.

Crime

Feds Allege Men from Lawrence and Methuen Dealt in Drugs

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A Methuen man and two Lawrence men are scheduled to appear Friday in federal court for alleged drug dealing. Twenty-seven-year-old Yeriel Torres Rodriguez of Methuen, was charged in a criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, while 29-year-old Ales Mena, known as “Shubill,” and 25-year-old cousin Andy Mena, both of Lawrence, face charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Court documents allege Ales Mena is “a high-level narcotics trafficker tied to the Trinitarios and Gangster Disciples street gangs, among others.”

From February to April of this year, Ales Mena allegedly coordinated the sale of fentanyl through Andy Mena. Prosecutors allege Andy Mena completed two fentanyl sales, 25 grams and 100 grams, to a confidential witness. On April 23, they allegedly travelled together from Torres-Rodriguez’s home to a Methuen car wash, where they allegedly sold a kilogram of suspected fentanyl to a confidential witness.

Crime

Methuen Police Charge Teen in Restaurant Shooting with Injury

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A Lawrence teen was arrested early Friday night for an alleged shooting at a Methuen fast food restaurant that left a 16-year-old male with arm injuries. Methuen Police Chief Scott J. McNamara said the unnamed 17-year-old Lawrence man was charged with assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm and discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling. Methuen Police and Fire Departments were dispatched around 7:30 p.m. for a report of a person shot inside Wendy’s restaurant at The Loop shopping center, 90 Pleasant Valley St., Methuen. Upon arrival, McNamara said, first responders found the 16-year-old male, who was at the restaurant with a group of other juveniles, had been shot once in the arm. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Crime

Sixth Teen Faces Charges in Downtown Haverhill Shooting

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Correction: the attorney representing Victor Ernesto Deaza Jr. was incorrectly identified in an earlier version of the story. Deaza’s court-appointed lawyer is Stephen A. Roth. A 19-year-old from Manchester, N.H., was arraigned in Haverhill District Court Wednesday and ordered held without bail after police allege he was involved with the April 17 daytime gang-related shooting in downtown Haverhill. Victor Ernesto Deaza Jr. was arrested by Haverhill Police along with two juveniles on Tuesday, April 21, after police observed them arrive together around 6:20 p.m. at the informal monument to slain Gangster Disciples leader Carlos Rivera at the intersection of How and May Street. They appeared to be concealing weapons in their waistbands.

Crime

Court Holds Former Haverhill Man on Child Rape Charges

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A 55-year-old Dracut man Returns to court May 14 to face charges he allegedly raped a child with force on multiple occasions when he resided with her in Haverhill four years ago. David F. Shanahan is being held without bail in the Essex County House of Correction. According to a Haverhill Police Department report and court documents, he allegedly inappropriately touched the child while his now-ex-wife was a work. His ex-wife is the child’s grandmother and legal guardian. WHAV is withholding the name of the grandmother due to the sensitive nature of the charges.

Crime

Court Convicts Haverhill Man, 40, of Attempted Sex with Minor

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A 40-year-old Haverhill man was convicted last week in federal court for attempting sex trafficking of a 12-year-old in 2024. Ozeias Luiz Guilherme was convicted of attempted sex trafficking of a minor and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct after a four-day trial before Judge Steven McAuliffe in U.S. District Court in Concord, N.H. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 4. As WHAV reported in November of 2024, federal agents placed an advertisement with images of what appeared to be two minor females. During a call with Guilherme, an agent said she had a 12-year-old girl available to perform sex acts in exchange for money and Guilherme traveled to a Manchester, N.H., hotel with $100 to pay for a sex act, according to prosecutors.