25 Investigates: Trooper cleared in Lowell controversial drug bust case

LOWELL, Mass. — A New Hampshire State Police trooper was truthful when he testified in a federal drug case, a judge ruled on Tuesday.

Trooper Francisco Vicente was cleared by the state after a thorough investigation found his testimony in a drug arrest case to be credible.

In March 2018, police in Lowell arrested a suspected drug dealer who had just taken possession of a kilo of fentanyl, but the suspect's attorney and a judge raised questions about how the arrest was documented.

Surveillance video shows 32-year-old Paul Aaron walking down the street with a bag in his hand. In court, however, Trooper Vicente testified Aaron "wasn't carrying anything."

The discrepancy in the video and the trooper's testimony, among other things, led a federal court judge to express concern over the case. Evidence in the case was suppressed.

Following an investigation, authorities deemed Vicente's testimony as credible, saying he did not see the bag in Aaron's hands because his view was obstructed.

"My office is satisfied that Trooper Vicente did not engage in falsification of his testimony at that hearing," said Scott Murray, the U.S. District Attorney for NH.

A separate investigation by Lowell Police found that five of their officers made multiple mistakes with the way they conducted and documented Aaron's arrest. More than two dozen drug cases in Middlesex County were thrown out because of questions surrounding their credibility.

According to documents from the Lowell internal affairs case, Trooper Vicente did not respond to repeated requests for information.

"The NH State Police conducted a full and thorough investigation which he cooperated fully which he was found to have committed no wrong doing," said John Krupski, Vicente's attorney. "There is no reason to engage in discussion with extrajudicial entities that have no bearing on his ability to be a trooper or police officer in this state."

Paul Aaron eventually pleaded guilty to drug conspiracy charges and is currently serving five years in prison. A separate case out of Lowell District Court was dropped and the five Lowell officers were disciplined.

Douglas Louison is the attorney representing the Lowell officers and says the officers were only asked to assist in Trooper Vicente's case.

"It’s just ironic that he is cleared by his supervisors but the Lowell officers who were called to assist were found to have engaged to some degree of error," said Louison.

The NH State Police colonel said the investigation involved hundreds of man-hours and cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Trooper Vicente was never placed on leave and remains a trooper in good standing.

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