United States of America v. Santo Benito Lara

Concord, New Hampshire criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.



Santo Benito Lara, 48, of Lawrence, Massachusetts was indicted for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.



Evidence presented during the four-day trial showed that beginning at least in May of 2018, the defendant participated in a conspiracy to sell fentanyl to a customer in Salem, New Hampshire. After the DEA received information about the conspiracy, it began an investigation into the Lara's activities. Between May and September of 2018, Lara and another individual sold fentanyl in Lawrence to a cooperating individual on multiple occasions.



Lara will likely face removal from the United States after serving his sentence.



"Drug traffickers who come to New Hampshire to sell fentanyl are endangering the lives of our state's residents,” said U.S. Attorney Farley. "This ten-year sentence demonstrates that those who sell fentanyl in the Granite State will be held accountable for their unlawful conduct. We will continue to work closely with the DEA and all our law enforcement partners to protect public safety by identifying and prosecuting the drug dealers who seek to profit from selling deadly substances in New Hampshire.”



This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police and the Essex County (MA) Sheriff's Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Dronzek and Jarad Hodes.



21 U.S.C. §§ 846,841(a) & (b)(l)(A)(vi) - Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances

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Defendant was sentenced to 120 months in prison.