Bondville pizza restaurant owner faces federal drug charges

By Shawn Cunningham
© 2016 Telegraph Publishing, LLC

The U.S. Attorney for Vermont announced yesterday that Marco Antonio Lam Peralta, 42, of South Londonderry was arrested Tuesday and charged with conspiracy to distribute heroin.

Lam Peralta was arrested in connection with a shipment of 40 kilograms (88 pounds)  of heroin seized in Miami last October.

According to the a criminal complaint, the shipment came from Guatemala and was destined for Manchester, Vt. It was labeled as Incaparina, a flour, corn and soy dietary supplement. On Oct. 8, 2015, police arrested Diego Mejia Paredes on taking delivery of the shipment. Mejia Paredes was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin. That prosecution is going forward.

The criminal complaint — the result of work done by Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Administration, Vermont State Police and the U.S. Border Patrol — alleges that  Mejia Paredes  was working with Lam Peralta in connection with the October shipment as well as others. The government’s complaint lists seven other shipments of food products sent between July and October of last year. The shipments, weighing between 40 and 57 kg, all originated in Guatemala and were delivered to addresses in Winhall, Manchester and Rawsonville.

In a press release, U.S. Attorney Eric S. Miller praised an “extraordinary” cooperation among state and federal agencies in the arrest.

If convicted on the charges, Lam Peralta could face a maximum of 20 years  in federal prison.

Lam Peralta appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy yesterday afternoon. He was ordered held pending a detention hearing, which is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 28.