News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2005

HOLYOKE MAN PLEADS GUILTY ON HEROIN CHARGES

Springfield, MA... A Holyoke man was convicted today in federal court of distributing heroin.

Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New England and United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan, announced today that MARIO ESPINO, age 22, of Holyoke, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to three counts of heroin distribution.

At today’s plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that, had the case proceeded to trial, the Government’s evidence would have proven that ESPINO distributed a total of 100.7 grams of heroin to an undercover police officer over the course of three deals that took place between March 7th and May 13th, 2003, in Springfield.

Judge Ponsor scheduled sentencing for May 24, 2005. ESPINO faces up to 20 years' imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and members of its Drug Task Force.