Littleton Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Cocaine Trafficking

           CONCORD - Christian Taveras-Polanco, a/k/a Lemuel Cruz Cepeda, 40, of Littleton, was sentenced to 24 months in prison on Tuesday for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

           According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 6, 2018, law enforcement officers surveilled Taveras-Polanco driving around the Littleton, New Hampshire, area in a gold Hummer registered to Lemuel Cruz Cepeda and stopping at two residences for a brief time. A traffic stop was conducted on the Hummer, and Taveras-Polanco initially identified himself as a citizen of the United States named Lemuel Cruz Cepeda. A consent search of the vehicle revealed 140 grams of cocaine. Taveras-Polanco was arrested and later admitted that he is a citizen of the Dominican Republic named Christian Taveras-Polanco, not a United States citizen named Lemuel Cruz Cepeda. Officers obtained a search warrant for Taveras-Polanco’s residence and located 302 additional grams of cocaine there.

           Taveras-Polanco previously pleaded guilty on March 18, 2019.  The defendant also forfeited over $7,000 in U.S. currency.  After serving his sentence, he faces likely deportation to the Dominican Republic.

           “Cocaine is an illegal drug that can have devastating consequences to a user’s health,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Dealers who trade in this substance also undermine public safety. In order to protect our citizens, we will aggressively prosecute dealers, seeking prison sentences in order to deter their trafficking activities.”

           This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the New Hampshire State Police.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes.

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