United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced in federal court in Springfield, Mass., for his role in a large-scale heroin trafficking organization.

Mirelvy Vasquez, 29, a Dominican national who previously resided in Springfield, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni to 54 months in prison and three years of supervised. Vasquez will face deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In July 2019, Vasquez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute heroin. Vasquez and 17 co-defendants were indicted on heroin conspiracy charges in August 2017.

Vasquez purchased large amounts of heroin, which he then distributed to various retail-level dealers in the Springfield area, from Alberto Marte, the leader of the Springfield-based drug trafficking organization. Vasquez admitted to purchasing between one and three kilograms of heroin from Marte on various occasions beginning in January 2016 and continuing through September 2016. Vasquez then repackaged his purchases into dosage units for further distribution.

Marte had direct contact with heroin supply sources in the Dominican Republic. On a monthly basis, members of the organization transported between eight and 20 kilograms of heroin to the Springfield area. Marte and five other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. The remaining defendants have pleaded not guilty.

DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle; United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Molina, of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni; Colonel Kerry A. Gilpin, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police; Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood; Chicopee Police Chief William Jebb; Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo and West Springfield Police Chief Ronald Campurciani made the announcement today.

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