CONCORD — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - New Hampshire), published as received.
CONCORD – Israel Perez, 52, of Manchester, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison for participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy in a seven-defendant narcotics case, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2018 Perez conspired with other persons to distribute fentanyl as part of a drug trafficking organization. Investigators made controlled purchases of approximately 330 grams of fentanyl from Perez in Manchester between January and May of 2018.
Perez previously pleaded guilty on August 22, 2019.
Co-defendants Lucas Rios, Abelino Morales-Padilla, Jose Hiram Martinez Rolon, Karina Reyes, Samuel Ramos, and Billy Damuel Maldonado Cancel previously pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking charges in the same case. Cancel was sentenced to 33 months and Samuel Ramos was sentenced to 22 months.
“Fentanyl traffickers have caused substantial damage to families and communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect the health and safety of our citizens, we work closely with federal, state and local law enforcement to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate fentanyl dealers. The substantial prison term imposed in this case should serve as a warning to all involved in this deadly trade.”
“Drug dealers like Perez may think they can hide from justice, but today’s sentence proves otherwise,” said Jason J. Molina, Acting Special Agent in Charge for HSI Boston. “HSI and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and dismantle organizations like this one that distribute deadly drugs with no regard for human life.”
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis.
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