In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking conducted through digital channels, an indictment has been unsealed against thirteen individuals for their roles in a sophisticated drug distribution network that spanned across state lines. This network, which engaged in distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine, utilized social media messaging apps to facilitate their operations, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The indictment, detailed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, names suspects from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, illustrating the expansive reach of the drug trafficking conspiracy. It is charged that over a span of one year, high-volume narcotics deals were arranged via text messages and social media, with drugs intended to be redistributed primarily in New Hampshire and Maine. Law enforcement has already arrested six of these defendants, while three remains at large and the four others are in state custody on unrelated charges.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Jane Young, the U.S Attorney overseeing the case, outlined the coordinated efforts leading to these indictments. “During the investigation, law enforcement made several undercover purchases of fentanyl, leading to the seizures of substantial drug quantities and the interruption of a significant distribution chain,” Young said. Officers reportedly conducted eight purchases from one social media account linked to the drug trafficking organization, securing amounts of fentanyl that ranged from 97 to 496 grams per transaction, as per the U.S Attorney’s Office.
Notably, firearms were also entangled in this illicit trade, with six individuals accused of attempting to exchange guns for drugs. These transactions and communications were meticulously tracked by law enforcement officials, leading to a comprehensive interception of these criminal activities. The investigation also included executing search warrants on social media platform servers to obtain historical records relating to the DTO’s account used for arranging the drug transactions.
Among those indicted include Pedro Miguel Ravelo Guzman and Robert A. Arrington, who have yet to be apprehended. Meanwhile, Riley J. Paletta has been released on pretrial supervision, and several other defendants are either in federal or state custody. The accused face serious charges, with potential sentences of up to 20 years in prison. Some individuals, based on their involvement level, face minimum mandatory penalties of 5 years imprisonment, reflecting the severity of the conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation, a collaborative approach across federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega is prosecuting, while multiple law enforcement departments from both New Hampshire and Maine have been credited with providing essential support throughout the investigation. As the details in the charging documents are allegations at this point, the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
