Peabody man pleads guilty to drug charge

SALEM – A Peabody used car dealer who admitted receiving numerous packages containing hundreds of OxyContin pills was placed on three years of probation.In Salem Superior Court last week, Lawrence Parente, 54, of 3 Arnold Ave., Peabody, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession with the intent to distribute OxyContin pills before Judge Timothy Q. Feeley.Feeley agreed to impose the joint recommendation proposed by Assistant District Attorney Greg A. Freidholm and defense lawyer Mark Miliotis.In late 2006 a postal inspector became suspicious after noticing numerous packages being sent from Florida to Peabody.He began tracking the packages sent by Barry M. Elfman, 60, formerly of Tequesta, Fla., to Parente at his home and also his place of business, Larry’s Auto Sales, also in Peabody.On July 18, 2008, authorities intercepted a package and determined it contained illegal drugs.A sting was set up and the package delivered to Parente’s home where he signed for the package. Authorities moved in and arrested him.A total of 150 30-milligram pills were seized.Parente admitted that Elfman was sending him the pills, which he obtained from pain clinics in Florida.When police contacted Elfman in Florida he admitted his involvement, saying the packages of OxyContin were legal prescriptions and he was sending them as a favor and as a means of supplementing his Social Security check.Under the terms of the plea negotiations, Friedholm red-uced the original charge of trafficking in OxyContin to a distribution charge, which eliminated a minimum mandatory seven-year state prison term.The judge ordered that Parente be subject to a substance-abuse evaluation and treatment as directed, random screenings and remain non-prescribed substance free while being supervised by probation.Elfman pleaded to his role last fall and received 30 months in the House of Corrections.