United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON - Jorge Delgado, a/k/a Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Elisaul Martinez Santana, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and three counts of distribution of heroin.  U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV scheduled sentencing for Jan. 13, 2016.

Delgado was the leader of a drug ring responsible for distributing heroin and fentanyl in the Salem and Peabody area.  Delgado received orders for heroin from customers via cellphone and often sent couriers, two of whom were charged as co-defendants, to distribute drugs for him.  Delgado’s drug ring not only distributed heroin but also distributed fentanyl in place of heroin on numerous occasions. 

Delgado’s co-defendants, Juanel Pena and Thomas Martinez-Ortiz, previously pleaded guilty.  This case was brought as part of the federal response to the growing opioid abuse epidemic in Massachusetts and other New England states.  A recent surge in overdose deaths has been attributed in part to the addition of Fentanyl to heroin, creating a toxic mixture substantially more potent, and more dangerous, than heroin alone.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz; Chief Mary Butler of the Salem Police Department; and Chief Thomas M. Griffin of the Peabody Police Department, made the announcement today.