A Lowell man has been taken into custody on serious drug charges. Jorge Manuel “Manny” Huertas, 46, faces allegations involving a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine, substances that continue to fuel the nation’s opioid crisis. As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, he's been hit with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute significant quantities of these controlled substances.
Huertas was charged with conspiracy after he reportedly distributed counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl and counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine. These were not standard street-level transactions; they involved a confidential source in an operation that suggests a broader network of illicit drug trade. Search warrants executed at Huertas’s residence and at his associates' homes early this morning brought the case to a head, with law enforcement closing in on the suspected drug distribution activities.
The charges are severe, carrying a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 40 years in prison. This, in addition to at least four years of supervised release and the possibility of a fine as hefty as $5 million. It is important to note that a charge is merely an allegation, and Huertas, like any defendant in this country, is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, as stated in the original announcement.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Stephen Belleau, and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Jodi Cohen led the charge on this collaborative effort, with Lowell Police Department and Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office providing indispensable support. Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Panich of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit will be spearheading the prosecution.
