United States Drug Enforcement Administration

JAN 05 - CONCORD, N.H. - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice announced that Juan Rojas, 32, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty (1) conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, oxycodone and cocaine (2) conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.   Rojas appeared before United States District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe to enter his guilty plea.

According to documents that were filed in court and statements in the plea proceeding, Rojas admitted that he and others participated in the distribution of cocaine and oxycodone pills in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  During a court-authorized wiretap investigation, law enforcement officers intercepted calls in which Rojas obtained quantities of oxycodone and cocaine, which he then supplied to others, including Franklyn and Mara Morillo.  The Morillos then arranged to distribute the drugs to customers.  Rojas was arrested on August 18, 2015, and approximately 110 grams of cocaine were recovered from a vehicle he was operating.

During the wiretap investigation, officers also intercepted calls indicating that Rojas and another (Oscar Rosario) were planning to rob a drug dealer.  Intercepted calls showed that Rosario traveled from New Hampshire to Haverhill, Massachusetts, where he obtained a firearm from Rojas.  A law enforcement officer later stopped Rosario and recovered the firearm before it could be used to commit the robbery.  A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for May 10, 2017. 

Rojas is one of six individuals indicted by a federal grand jury on September 23, 2015, and charged with conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, controlled substances.  The other defendants are: Mara Morillo, 41, of Haverhill, Massachusetts; Franklyn Morillo, 41, of Haverhill, Massachusetts; Jorge Medina, 25, of Haverhill, Massachusetts; Justin Bartimus, 35, formerly of Methuen, Massachusetts; and Michael Lally, 28, of Salem, New Hampshire.  All of the other defendants have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.  Rojas and Rosario were charged in a separate indictment with conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.  Rosario previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF).  The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad led the investigation with assistance from the Haverhill, Massachusetts Police Department, the Methuen, Massachusetts Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police.