Lawrence man sentenced to 150 months in prison for fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and a second Lawrence man pleads guilty

CONCORD, N.H. – Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Division and United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Jepherson Emanuel Cabrera, 18, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 150 months in prison and Juan Rafael Tejada-Jiminez, 28, of Lawrence, Massachusetts pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, a drug trafficking organization that authorities allege was led by Sergio Martinez, employed Cabrera, Tejada-Jiminez, and others to sell fentanyl to customers from various New England States, including New Hampshire.  On each day that the defendants worked, the Martinez organization provided them with at least one 200-gram bag of fentanyl and expected them to sell it and return approximately $6,000 in proceeds.  Tejada-Jiminez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2019.  Cabrera previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 21, 2018.

“Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Those who distribute fentanyl are endangering the safety of the citizens of New Hampshire.  This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

 “Fentanyl trafficking continues to pose an immediate threat to the lives and safety of the citizens of New Hampshire” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Blocking the introduction of this lethal substance into our state is a top priority of federal law enforcement. Those who choose to distribute fentanyl in the Granite State should understand that they will be arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated.”

The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; New Hampshire State Police; Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; Nashua Police Department; Massachusetts State Police; Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; Essex County District Attorney’s Office; Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; United States Marshals Service; United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; Manchester Police Department; Lisbon Police Department; Littleton Police Department; Seabrook Police Department; Haverhill Police Department;  Methuen Police Department; Lowell Police Department; and the Maine State Police.