Fed's Lake Avenue Search Warrant Results In Manchester Fentanyl Charges

MANCHESTER, NH — Manchester police SWAT, Special Enforcement Division, and federal agents raided a garage at 416 Lake Avenue in Manchester early Friday morning.

U.S. Attorney Jane Young announced Wednesday that Walter Velez, 41, had been arrested and charged with distributing controlled substances in connection with the sale of fentanyl accusation made to a confidential informant.

According to the charging documents, Velez sold fentanyl and crack cocaine on four separate occasions — totaling more than 200 grams of fentanyl and more than 20 grams of crack cocaine.

The address in the search warrant was labeled Velez Alignment and was adjacent to a multi-unit apartment building. Both properties are listed in the city of Manchester tax records as being owned by Syed Jan Alam since 2017.

Court documents reveal that several drug purchases were made by a cooperating person who was facing charges in a different case.

"HSI Manchester with a cooperating defendant (“CD”). The CD has cooperated in this investigation beginning in April 2023. The cooperation began after the CD was served with a Target Letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office advising the CD of the CD’s pending federal drug distribution charges. The CD agreed to cooperate in hopes of receiving favorable consideration with regard to those charges, which stem from five controlled narcotics purchases into the CD, totaling over 200 grams of seized fentanyl. I have reviewed the CD’s criminal record. Based on that review, I have determined that the CD has multiple motor vehicle and narcotics-related convictions in the State of New Hampshire, dating back to 2014. The CD is a known drug user. The CD is willing to testify."

In the documents, it described how the cooperating person became involved.

"On April 10, 2023, HSI Manchester cultivated the aforementioned CD following the CD’s state arrest on several outstanding New Hampshire bench warrants. After assisting the Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office with the arrest, HSI Manchester conducted a post-arrest interview with the CD. The CD was advised of their impeding federal indictment pertaining to violations of controlled drug laws. The CD agreed to speak with HSI Manchester special agents in an effort to mitigate any potential federal charges."

During this interview, the CD advised law enforcement that the CD purchases cocaine and/or crack from a subject known to the CD only as “Angelo.” According to the CD, Angelo was a heavier-set Hispanic man who sold cocaine and crack to the CD, but the CD was also aware he also sold fentanyl, too. Angelo ran an auto-body shop located at the subject premises, the report said. When purchasing narcotics from Angelo, the CD would physically go to the shop to make the purchase, prosecutors said. Prior surveillance conducted by HSI Manchester had observed the CD entering the subject premises and then leaving minutes later, according to a report.

The charge of distributing a controlled substance provides for a sentence of at least five years and up to 40 years in prison, at least four years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $5 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.

Velez is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Concord today for a detention hearing.

As additional information becomes available, updates will be published.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news