United States Drug Enforcement Administration

NOV 02 - CONCORD, N.H. - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration New England Division and United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice announced that Juan Alexis Diaz Pena, 26, formerly of Methuen, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, quantities of heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone and unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy.  The plea of guilty took place just before Pena’s trial was scheduled to begin.

According to documents filed in court and statements in the plea proceeding, from approximately the spring of 2014 through January of 2016, Pena and his co-defendant, Martin Gonzalez Diaz, conspired to distribute quantities of heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone in the Lawrence, Massachusetts area to individuals in Massachusetts who then sold the drugs to New Hampshire-based customers for redistribution in Rochester, New Hampshire.  Gonzalez Diaz, 34, also formerly of Methuen, pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy charge on August 17, 2016, and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 21, 2016.

As part of the investigation, DEA agents searched an apartment connected to Pena and located quantities of cocaine and heroin, as well as items associated with drug trafficking. A loaded semi-automatic handgun was recovered under a mattress in a bedroom in close proximity to where the drugs were located.  Pena is scheduled to be sentenced on February 17, 2017.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address the significant presence of heroin and fentanyl in New Hampshire by continuing to target drug trafficking organizations who are responsible for bringing those drugs into our state.” said United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice. 

The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Tactical Diversion Unit, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the Rochester, New Hampshire Police Department and the Haverhill, Massachusetts Police Department.