Methuen Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl, Heroin Distribution

Luis Martin Carvajal Gonzalez, 34, of Methuen, Massachusetts, has pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and heroin in New Hampshire, capping a federal investigation into a string of deadly drug deals across the state’s southern border towns. The defendant, who has also used the alias Wilfredo Laboy, admitted to selling the potent narcotics to an undercover officer multiple times in December 2015.

Court documents reveal the transactions took place at retail stores in Salem, New Hampshire — a recurring hotspot for cross-state drug activity. Each sale fed into the growing opioid crisis gripping the region, where fentanyl-laced substances have pushed overdose deaths to record highs. Carvajal Gonzalez wasn’t just a minor player; his actions placed lethal doses directly into circulation.

The final straw came on February 9, 2016. Surveillance teams watched as Carvajal Gonzalez arrived at a Salem parking lot, ready to close another deal. When law enforcement moved in, he bolted on foot, tossing small bundles — referred to as ‘fingers’ — in a desperate attempt to ditch the evidence. Officers caught him within minutes. Recovered from the scene: approximately 156 grams of pure fentanyl, a quantity capable of thousands of lethal doses.

Carvajal Gonzalez now faces sentencing on April 11, 2017, in federal court in Concord. He is charged with distribution of fentanyl and heroin, as well as possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. The plea marks a win for federal prosecutors determined to dismantle supply chains fueling the addiction epidemic.

“The United States Attorney’s Office remains committed to identifying and prosecuting those who attempt to profit from the sales of deadly drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Emily Gray Rice. “We continue to work each day to stop the flow of fentanyl and heroin into New Hampshire and to reverse the escalating number of drug-related deaths in our state.”

“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in New Hampshire,” added DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Fentanyl and heroin are causing overdose deaths across the Granite State in record numbers, and DEA is committed to aggressively pursuing Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals who are coming from out of state to distribute these poisons.” The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with support from the New Hampshire State Police and local departments in Salem, Manchester, and Methuen, Massachusetts. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Farley is prosecuting.

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