United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BOSTON - Jorge Delgado, a/k/a Antonio Martinez, a/k/a Elisaul Martinez Santana, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to 33 months in prison and three years of supervised release.  In October 2015, Delgado pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute heroin and fentanyl and three counts of distribution of heroin. 

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, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 21 months and time served of 53 days in prison, respectively. 

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.

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