Methuen Man Pena Admits Heroin, Fentanyl Trafficking & Gun Charge

CONCORD, NH – Another cog in the opioid pipeline heading into New Hampshire has broken. Juan Alexis Diaz Pena, 26, formerly of Methuen, Massachusetts, admitted guilt to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone, and unlawful possession of a firearm related to drug trafficking. The plea came moments before Pena was slated to face a jury, effectively ending the case.

Federal prosecutors detailed a multi-year operation stretching from approximately the spring of 2014 through January of 2016. Pena, working alongside Martin Gonzalez Diaz, 34, also of Methuen, allegedly funneled significant quantities of narcotics into the Lawrence, Massachusetts area. These drugs weren’t for local use; the pair supplied individuals who then pushed the product north, flooding the streets of Rochester, New Hampshire. Gonzalez Diaz already pleaded guilty on August 17, 2016, and awaits sentencing on November 21, 2016.

The DEA wasn’t relying on street informants alone. Agents executed a search warrant on an apartment linked to Pena, turning up a cocktail of cocaine and heroin. But the discovery didn’t stop there. Tucked away under a mattress in a bedroom, dangerously close to the stashed drugs, was a loaded semi-automatic handgun – a clear indication of the violence that often accompanies this trade. The weapon will undoubtedly factor into Pena’s sentencing.

United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice made it clear this case represents a larger fight. “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,” she stated. The message is simple: those who profit from addiction will be pursued relentlessly.

The investigation was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Unit in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and bolstered by the Rochester, New Hampshire Police Department and the Haverhill, Massachusetts Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Cole Davis and Seth Aframe are handling the prosecution, promising a robust case at sentencing. Pena is scheduled to receive his sentence on February 17, 2017, and faces a significant prison term.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. The opioid crisis continues to grip New Hampshire, and every conviction, no matter how small, is a step towards dismantling the networks that fuel the devastation. The focus now shifts to ensuring Pena – and his associates – face the full weight of the law.

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