Taunton Heroin Ring Bust: Kerem Mendez-Luz Sentenced to 5 Months in Prison
A Taunton-based heroin trafficking operation has claimed another defendant. Kerem Mendez-Luz, a 38-year-old Providence woman, was sentenced to five months in prison and three years of supervised release for her role in the crime.
On July 15, 2015, Mendez-Luz and 11 co-conspirators were arrested and charged for their roles in the drug trafficking organization, led by Eddyberto Mejia Ramos. The operation sold heroin throughout the Taunton area, with Mejia Ramos purchasing large quantities of heroin from several wholesale suppliers, including Saul Sanchez Rolon.
Mendez-Luz delivered heroin to, or collected drug proceeds from, Mejia-Ramos at the direction of Sanchez Rolon on at least three occasions. Mejia Ramos and his mid-level associates then distributed the heroin to lower-level distributors and customers.
In April 2017, Mendez-Luz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin. This conviction marks the end of the conspiracy, as Eddyberto Mejia Ramos was sentenced to 90 months in prison in August 2016, and Saul Sanchez Rolon was sentenced to 108 months in prison in January 2017.
The investigation into the heroin trafficking operation was a lengthy one, involving the efforts of Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; Taunton Police Chief Edward J. Walsh; and Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Heinrich of Weinreb’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.
Kerem Mendez-Luz is the last of the 12 defendants involved in the conspiracy to be sentenced. Her sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of participating in such operations. The Taunton community can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that those responsible for bringing heroin into their community will face justice.
Defendant Information:
Defendant Name: Kerem Mendez-Luz
Criminal Charges: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin
City and State: Providence, Massachusetts
Arrest Date: July 15, 2015
Sentence: Five months in prison and three years of supervised release
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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