Easthampton Man Convicted Of Drug Conspiracy

BOSTON – An Easthampton man was convicted today in U.S. District Court in Springfield of distributing more than 500 grams of cocaine.

Julio Vidal Hermida, 26, formerly of Easthampton, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Michael A. Ponsor to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of more than 500 grams of cocaine.

Between July 31, 2010, and May 2, 2011, Hermida and others participated in a criminal conspiracy that transported kilograms of cocaine from Texas to western Massachusetts.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 2, 2013. The statutory maximum penalty is up to 40 years in prison, followed by four years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz, John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Boston Field Division, and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Field Division, made the announcement today. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Regan of Ortiz’s Springfield Office.