A man from the Dominican Republic who previously lived in Massachusetts has pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in New Hampshire. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.
Juan Carlos De Los Santos Romero admitted guilt to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and one count of distributing methamphetamine. His sentencing is scheduled for June 10, 2026.
According to information presented in court, De Los Santos Romero was a member of a Methuen-based drug trafficking organization that distributed significant amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl in the New Hampshire seacoast region. Between late 2023 and early 2024, law enforcement conducted ten controlled purchases involving fentanyl and methamphetamine with members of this group. Four other individuals connected to the organization—Jose Luis Guerrero Nunez, Carlos Alejandro Chevalier Santos, Eddy Mendez Carmona, and Luis Guerrero Cabral—have already entered guilty pleas.
The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration with support from several local police departments: Seabrook, Hampton, Portsmouth, Methuen, as well as the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Vicinanzo is handling prosecution.
The case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at using all available resources to address illegal immigration issues, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguard communities from violent crime.
