Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella, Pelham Police Chief Joseph A. Roark, and United States Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent-in-Charge Brian D. Boyle announce that today Jonathan Betancourt, age 31, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty and was sentenced by the Hillsborough County Superior Court, Southern District, to 10–20 years stand committed in the New Hampshire State Prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl throughout the State of New Hampshire.

The evidence in this case established that Betancourt was the brother of an individual who was running a fentanyl trafficking organization out of Haverhill, Massachusetts. This organization would distribute large quantities of fentanyl to dealers throughout New Hampshire, who would in turn sell that fentanyl to New Hampshire citizens.

Evidence developed during the investigation showed that Betancourt played a variety of roles in this fentanyl trafficking organization: he transported fentanyl to his brother to resupply the organization, he moved fentanyl and cash between his brother and the New Hampshire-based dealers, he prepared fentanyl for distribution by "cutting" it with non-drug additives to increase the organization's profit margin, and he packaged fentanyl for distribution as well. In addition, during the investigation Betancourt made four sales of fentanyl to a confidential informant in Pelham, New Hampshire, totaling approximately 133 grams of fentanyl.

Betancourt was arrested at his apartment in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on June 27, 2019, by members of the Massachusetts State Police. At the time he was in possession of approximately 12.96 grams of fentanyl, supplies to cut and package fentanyl for distribution, and a .32 caliber Beretta Tomcat handgun with two full magazines.

The investigation and resolution of this case was the result of the collaborative efforts of the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, the Pelham Police Department, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the Massachusetts State Police, and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections.