BOSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Massachusetts), published as received.
BOSTON – Two Dominican nationals were arrested yesterday and charged with heroin trafficking.
Angel Martinez-Peguero, 27, and his brother Alexander Martinez-Peguero, 38, both of whom resided in Lawrence, were arrested and charged by criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. Angel Martinez-Peguero was additionally charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. They will appear in federal court in Boston this afternoon.
According to charging documents, on Dec. 20, 2018, investigators seized approximately one kilogram of suspected heroin from the Martinez-Peguero brothers during a law enforcement operation in Lawrence. Investigators also seized a loaded semi-automatic pistol from Angel Martinez-Peguero’s waistband upon his arrest.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a fine of $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release. The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime provides for a minimum mandatory sentence of five years in prison to be served consecutive to any sentence imposed for the underlying drug trafficking crime. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Andrew Lelling; Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Division; and Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Colonel Kerry Gilpin made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip C. Cheng of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit is prosecuting the case.
The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
