MANCHESTER — A Manchester, N.H. man admitted to federal charges of intending to distribute a massive quantity of cocaine after police discovered 70 kilograms in his vehicle.
Miguel Angel Martinez Lugo, also known by aliases “Jesus Manuel Encarnacion” and “Jose Rosado Rabell,” 38, entered a guilty plea on Dec. 11 to one count of possession with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
U.S. District Court Judge Julia E. Kobick set Martinez Lugo’s sentencing for March 6.
On April 4, plainclothes police officers, in an unmarked vehicle, noticed a black Acura MDX and a Chevrolet pickup truck, both operating in tandem through Salem, Mass.
The Acura, registered in New Hampshire to Martinez Lugo under the alias “Jesus Encarnacion,” and the pickup bore Ohio plates.
The vehicles stopped on Porter Street Court, where officers observed two men, including Martinez Lugo, transferring a hefty storage bin from the pickup to the Acura.
Upon making eye contact with an officer, Martinez Lugo parked and left the Acura.
A search warrant later revealed 70 kilograms of cocaine within three storage bins in the vehicle, along with three cell phones and other items.
The conviction carries a minimum of 10 years to a potential life sentence, five years to life of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10 million.
