A New Hampshire man has entered a plea of guilt in federal court for the possession, with the intent to distribute a significant quantity of cocaine, officials reported yesterday. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts confirmed that Miguel Angel Martinez Lugo, also known by several aliases including "Jesus Manuel Encarnacion" and "Jose Rosado Rabell," acknowledged his crime before a Boston federal court last Wednesday.
Martinez Lugo, 38, pled guilty to the charge of possessing five kilograms or more of the drug, an offense that carries a stark minimum sentence of a decade behind bars and could extend to a life term. The court, overseen by U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick, has set the date for sentencing on March 6, 2025, as detailed in a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The incident unfolded on April 4, 2024, when undercover officers spotted two vehicles, a black Acura MDX linked to Martinez Lugo's alias "Jesus Encarnacion," and, a Chevrolet pickup truck with Ohio plates that seemed to be collaborating. After trailing these vehicles to Porter Street Court in Salem, Mass., law enforcement witnessed two men, including Martinez Lugo, transferring black storage bins between the vehicles. Martinez Lugo's eventual encounter with the officers led him to abruptly park the Acura and flee. A following search uncovered 70 kilograms of cocaine within three plastic bins in the vehicle, alongside other evidence including three cellphones.
Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy alongside local and federal officials including Stephen Belleau, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New England Field Division, and others lauded the collaborative effort leading to Martinez Lugo's plea. Upon sentencing, Martinez Lugo faces not only a potential life sentence and imposed supervision post-release but also the possibility of a hefty fine that could amount up to $10 million. The case, spearheaded by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Mackenzie Duane of the Narcotics & Money Laundering Unit, is part of a larger crack down on drug trafficking in the region.
