News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2004

Former Lawrence Man Convicted of Cocaine Trafficking

JUN 10 - A Lawrence, Massachusetts man was convicted yesterday in federal court of three counts of cocaine trafficking.

Mark R. Trouville, Special Agent in Charge of the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration in New England; United States Attorney Michael J. Sullivan; and Anthony Dichio, U. S. Marshal, announced that GUSTAVO REYNOSO, age 45, formerly of 97 Greenwood Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty before Senior U. S. District Judge Edward F. Harrington to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and two counts of distribution of cocaine.

At yesterday’s plea hearing, the prosecutor told the Court that, had the case proceeded to trial, the Government’s evidence would have proven that in 1992, REYNOSO and his codefendants, Manual Medrano, Ramon Medrano and Raphael Arias were involved in distributing cocaine in Lawrence, Massachusetts. REYNOSO distributed cocaine to a cooperating witness who was working with Special Agents of the DEA on August 27, 1992 and again on September 3, 1992. On both occasions, the cooperating witness met with Manuel Medrano at a restaurant in Lawrence, Massachusetts to arrange for the sale of cocaine. The two drove from the restaurant to REYNOSO’s residence at 97 Greenwood Street. After the cooperating witness paid Medrano the money for the cocaine, REYNOSO met with the cooperating witness and gave the witness a package containing the cocaine. On August 27, 1992, REYNOSO gave the witness 120 grams of cocaine, and on September 3, 1992, he gave the witness 363 grams of cocaine.

REYNOSO was originally arrested on September 3, 1992, and fled the jurisdiction while out on bail awaiting trial. Deputy U. S. Marshals eventually found him to be residing in the Dominican Republic. REYNOSO was extradited by the Dominican Republic in October, 2003.

Co- defendant Manuel Medrano was previously convicted and sentenced to 71 months’ imprisonment, Ramon Medrano and Raphael Arias were also convicted and sentenced to 81 months’ and to 18 months’ imprisonment respectively. They have all served their sentences and have since been deported to the Dominican Republic.

Senior Judge Harrington scheduled sentencing for September 28, 2004. REYNOSO faces up to 20 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by at least 3 years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine.

The case was investigated by the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the U. S. Marshals Service. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Susan M. Poswistilo in Sullivan’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Unit.