Gianno Koeiman, Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking, Massachusetts 2024

A Massachusetts man has been brought to justice after pleading guilty to possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute.

Gianno Koeiman, 31, of Lawrence, Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to possession of fentanyl and cocaine with intent to distribute, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 22, 2017, an undercover Salem police officer observed what he believed to be a drug transaction in the shoe department of a local store between Koeiman and a drug customer. The officer observed the men leave the store and get into separate vehicles. The drug customer stayed in his car and began to inject himself with drugs. After being approached by an officer, the customer confirmed he had just purchased one gram of heroin from the man in the shoe department.

In the meantime, a second Salem police officer followed Koeiman’s vehicle and stopped it. After explaining what the first officer observed in the shoe department, Koeiman responded that those observations were accurate. When asked if he had illegal substances in the car, Koeiman responded that he did and consented to a search of the trunk. The search revealed 95 baggies which contained a total of approximately 67 grams of fentanyl and 23 baggies which contained a total of approximately 16 grams of cocaine.

Koeiman is scheduled to be sentenced on December 6, 2021. “Drug traffickers who distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and other dangerous drugs are endangering lives throughout New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “In order to protect public health and safety, we work with our law enforcement partners to identify drug dealers and hold them responsible for their actions.”

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Salem Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.

The guilty plea and upcoming sentencing serve as a reminder of the consequences of engaging in illicit drug activities. As the investigation and prosecution of drug crimes continue, it is essential for law enforcement and the community to work together to combat the scourge of drug trafficking.

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