Tue, Nov 10 2009

Published: December 02, 2008 12:41 am    PrintThis  

Plaistow police name fifth suspected heroin dealer Man thought to be part of Southern NH heroin ring

By Margo Sullivan
margosullivan@eagletribune.com

PLAISTOW — Police have named the fifth suspect wanted for allegedly buying heroin from a Lawrence, Mass., pipeline and reselling the drugs in Southern New Hampshire.

But Devin Rooney, 22, of Hudson is still at large, Plaistow police Sgt. Patrick Caggiano said.

Kingston and Plaistow police obtained arrest warrants for Rooney and four other New Hampshire residents on Oct. 9, when Lawrence police helped them take Luis Peguro-Tejada, 35, of Lawrence into custody.

A search of his 245 Andover St. apartment turned up $14,000 cash and 327 grams of heroin, said to be worth $32,000. The arrest followed a two-month investigation by Plaistow and Kingston police into local heroin sales.

Also on Oct. 9, Plaistow police obtained arrest warrants for Rooney; Philip Voss, 21, and Matthew Cunningham, 22, both of Plaistow; Brystal Razo, 19, of Derry; and Joseph Devellis, 26, of Sandown.

Cunningham was arrested on Oct. 10. Devellis turned himself in to Plaistow police on Oct. 13. Razo and Voss were actually collared earlier, but police held off releasing details about the charges. Rooney was not identified as a suspect on Oct. 20, when police released basic details about the case.

"We have active warrants, and we have been in contact with (Rooney) a couple of times, but he has yet to turn himself in," Caggiano said.

Rooney's official address is in New Hampshire, but detectives said they believe he is living in Haverhill, Mass., Caggiano said.

Also yesterday, in Plaistow District Court, two of the four suspects, Cunningham and Razo, appeared for their arraignments. Cunningham pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor heroin possession charge. Police said he was caught with the illegal drug while driving a Chevy Tahoe Aug. 18 on Route 125.

No plea was filed for other drug charges because they are felonies. Cunningham is due back in court on Jan.12 for a probable cause hearing on the other complaints. He also was charged with felony heroin possession on Oct. 9, and with selling heroin to a confidential informant working with Plaistow police on Aug. 18, Aug. 28, Aug. 29, and Sept. 3.

Razo was charged with felony heroin possession on Feb. 25, and felony accomplice to the sale of heroin. She is due back in court on Dec. 15 for her probable cause hearing. Police said she drove Cunningham to the Petro King in Plaistow, where he sold heroin to a confidential informant.

The court dropped one misdemeanor charge against Razo for possession of drug paraphernalia. She also pleaded not guilty to four misdemeanor charges related to receiving stolen property on Feb. 8 at Rockingham Trading Post in Plaistow, and with making false statements to police on the secondhand dealer report.

Voss did not appear in court yesterday because his lawyer waived the arraignment.

Devellis was not due in court. His paperwork is not ready, according to Plaistow Deputy Chief Kathleen Jones.

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