Dominican National Sentenced For Fentanyl Distribution

BOSTON – A Dominican national was sentenced yesterday in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

Sergio Manuel Lara-Suarez, a/k/a Sergio Manuel Lara-Juarez, 42, a Dominican national residing in Lawrence, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani to 57 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Lara-Suarez will be subject to deportation proceedings upon completion of his sentence. In February 2019, Lara-Suarez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and multiple additional fentanyl distribution offenses, including distribution of more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Lara-Suarez has been in state custody since August 2018.

Between September 2017 and March 2018, Lara-Suarez and others conspired to distribute significant quantities of fentanyl or a mixture containing both fentanyl and heroin to undercover law enforcement officers. During that period, Lara-Suarez met with undercover agents on 11 separate occasions and sold them substances containing fentanyl that totaled over 430 grams.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division; and Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Division, made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Estes of Lelling’s Narcotics and Money Laundering Unit prosecuted the case.