District of New Hampshire
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Keene Woman Sentenced to 60 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Jennifer Bosworth, 31, of Keene, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and crack cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 1, 2021, law enforcement officers conducting surveillance of Ms. Bosworth observed her travel by car from her residence in Keene, New Hampshire, to Lawrence, Massachusetts, picking up an associate along the way. Once in Lawrence, she stopped at an ATM and made multiple cash withdrawals. She then drove to an area in Lawrence known for its drug activity. Law enforcement observed Ms. Bosworth interact with an individual who walked up to Ms. Bosworth’s vehicle but did not get inside. Ms. Bosworth then drove back to Keene. Ms. Bosworth was on probation at the time and had violated its terms by traveling out of state, so law enforcement conducted a stop of her car. After removing Ms. Bosworth from her car, law enforcement observed a baggie containing roughly 15 grams of crack cocaine. A later search of Ms. Bosworth’s car resulted in the seizure of over 85 additional grams of crack cocaine, over 80 grams of fentanyl, and roughly 10 grams of powder cocaine, along with $1,220 in an Arizona Tea can “hide” compartment, and ATM receipts showing numerous large cash withdrawals totaling thousands of dollars.
“Drug dealers like the defendant who traffic fentanyl, crack cocaine and other dangerous drugs across our state borders for distribution will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Through the efforts of Homeland Security and local law enforcement working with our office, the defendant will no longer be able to sell these lethal drugs that are poisoning residents of Keene and other New Hampshire communities.”
This matter was investigated by the Keene Police Department with the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande.
###
Danville Woman Sentenced for Embezzling More Than $66,000 from Saint Anselm CollegeRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Renee Crawford, 35, of Danville was sentenced to 2 years of probation with six months of home confinement and ordered to pay full restitution for embezzling $66,114.02 from Saint Anselm College, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Crawford was employed as the Assistant Vice President of Finance for the College. In her role, Crawford had authority to manage invoice approvals, enter vendor information, and had oversight of the Finance Office’s credit card program.
Crawford used her access to submit fraudulent invoices for a company that she created, receiving more than $44,000 from the College which she used for personal purchases. In addition, Crawford used two College issued credit cards to make personal purchases, such as family vacations and theme park tickets, totaling nearly $22,000.
According to statements made in court, Crawford is making full restitution to Saint Anselm College today.
“As the Assistant Vice President of Finance for St. Anselm College, Renee Crawford went to great lengths to submit phony receipts for thousands of dollars in personal purchases, including family vacations and theme park tickets,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Defrauding her employer not only exhibited poor judgement, but it is a federal crime for which she has now been held accountable.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Goffstown Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy
###
Manchester Man Sentenced to 34 Months in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon After Posting Videos on Social MediaRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Raheem Tyler, 24, of Manchester, was sentenced today to 34 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between July 7 and 23, 2021, the defendant took videos of himself carrying a handgun, which he posted on social media. Through investigation, law enforcement was able to determine the defendant’s location. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the apartment where the defendant was when he posted the July 23, 2021 video of himself with the gun. The search led to seizure of the handgun. The defendant later admitted that he had carried the gun. The defendant was legally prohibited from possessing a gun because he was a convicted felon based on multiple convictions, including a 2017 robbery in Manchester.
“Felons who possess firearms, especially those like the defendant who was convicted of a violent crime in his past, pose a serious threat to public safety” said U.S. Attorney Young. “The defendant was apprehended and convicted due to the diligent efforts of the Manchester Police Anti-Crime Unit, whose mission is the reduction of violent crime and apprehension of violent criminals. The U.S. Attorney’s office will continue to work with local law enforcement to keep our communities safe from felons in possession of firearms.”
“I am very pleased with this sentence, as it sends a clear message that violent criminals have no place in our community,” says Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg. “I would like to commend the detectives in our Anti-Crime Unit for their commitment to this case. This positive resolution is a testament to their hard work.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande.
###
California Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Attempting to Obtain over $3.5 Million in CARES Act FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Pierre Rogers, 44, of Irvine, California, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between March 2020 and November 2021, Rogers and his co-defendant, Joshua Leavitt, agreed to fraudulently apply for loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. Congress had authorized the PPP and EIDL relief programs to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the early stages of the COVID pandemic. PPP loans were issued by private lenders but fully guaranteed by the government, and EIDL funds were issued by the Small Business Administration.
For example, during their conspiracy Leavitt applied for a $175,000 PPP loan from TD Bank for one of their companies, Puro Group. The application falsely claimed that Puro Group’s monthly payroll was $70,000 and that the company had six employees. Rogers knew that the application had false information and signed it.
False supporting documents were included with this application. One of those documents was a false IRS Form 941, or quarterly tax return, for the first quarter of 2020. The document, which was purportedly filed with the IRS, claimed that Puro Group had five employees that quarter who were paid a total of $209,999.99. The document also claimed that the company paid actual federal income tax of $27,600 that quarter. However, that document was never filed with the IRS. The real tax filings showed that Puro Group paid $48,255.53 to its employees during the entire calendar year of 2020, or approximately $4,000 per month.
Rogers then spent $107,780 of the PPP loan proceeds to purchase a Rolls Royce Ghost.
As another example of the fraud, during the conspiracy Leavitt applied and obtained a $29,000 EIDL and $7,000 Economic Injury Disaster Grant for one of Rogers’s companies, Monticello Transnational. The application falsely claimed that Monticello Transnational’s gross revenues for the year preceding January 31, 2020, was $75,000 and that the company had seven employees. However, bank records showed no payments to employees and that the company had only a few thousand dollars’ worth of deposits. In addition, there were no tax filings for the company for 2019 or the first quarter of 2020.
In total, Rogers and Leavitt attempted to fraudulently obtain more than $3.5 million in PPP and EIDL funds. Rogers will be required to pay restitution of $803,756.
Rogers is scheduled to be sentenced on January 31, 2023. Leavitt previously pled guilty to bank fraud and wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Secret Service, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
###
British National Sentenced to 8 Months for Failure to Surrender for Service of SentenceRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Paul Ubsdell (a/k/a Paul Upstall and Paul James Kanes), 49, of the United Kingdom, was sentenced today to 8 months in federal prison and a fine of $10,000 for failure to surrender for service of sentence, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ubsdell was sentenced to serve 18 months in prison in 2013 following his guilty plea to wire fraud conspiracy. At the defendant’s request, the sentencing court granted his request to return to the United Kingdom and settle his affairs before reporting to the designated Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facility to serve his sentence. Rather than face punishment for his crime, Ubsdell later changed his legal name, and he remained in the United Kingdom for 8 years until his extradition. Ubsdell was taken into custody on August 25, 2021, on the United States’ extradition request, and he was taken into U.S. custody on May 18, 2022.
Ubsdell’s sentence for failure to surrender for service of sentence will run consecutive to the 18 months in prison that was imposed in 2013.
“This prosecution demonstrates that defendants cannot flee from the United States to escape responsibility for their crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Ubsdell violated his promise to surrender to serve his sentence, and instead spent years avoiding the punishment for his crime. Through hard work and diligence of the U.S. Marshals Service and law enforcement officials in the United Kingdom, Ubsdell was located and extradited back to New Hampshire to face the consequences of his 2013 guilty plea and his flight from justice. Other criminal defendants should take note that efforts to flee from justice will not succeed.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Marshals Service. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in the UK to secure the arrest and extradition of Ubsdell. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam T. Le.
###
U.S. Attorney Young Announces District Election OfficerRead the Press Release
CONCORD - United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Seth R. Aframe will lead the efforts of her office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, general election. AUSA Aframe has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of New Hampshire, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Young said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Young stated that: “The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the right to vote can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Aframe will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 603-230-2503.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 857-386-2000 or at tips.fbi.gov.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
United States Attorney Young said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
###
Intertech Trading Corp. Sentenced to Pay $140,000 on 14 Felony Counts of Failure to File Export Information on Shipments of Lab Equipment to Russia and UkraineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Intertech Trading Corporation, an Atkinson, New Hampshire-based laboratory equipment distributor, was sentenced today in federal court after pleading guilty to 14 felony counts of failure to file export information on shipments to Russia and Ukraine, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced. Judge Paul Barbadoro ordered that Intertech pay the maximum allowable fine of $10,000 per count, for a total of $140,000, and be subject to a two-year term of corporate probation and monitoring.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2015 and 2019, Intertech exported laboratory equipment to Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere, falsely describing the nature and value of the exported items on commercial invoices and shipping forms. In its plea agreement, Intertech admitted that it used false, innocuous descriptions such as “lamp for aquarium” or “spares for welding system,” rather than accurately identifying the sophisticated scientific equipment actually contained in the shipments. Intertech admitted that it drastically undervalued the shipments, thereby evading the requirement to file Electronic Export Information, which would have been reported to the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security.
“Evasion of export control requirements is a serious felony and undermines the government’s ability to ensure that sensitive equipment does not end up in the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Our office works closely with our law enforcement partners to detect, deter, and punish companies and individuals that violate export control laws.”
“Through lies and deceit, Intertech Trading Corporation evaded U.S. export laws to illegally send sophisticated scientific equipment to Russia and Ukraine, jeopardizing our national security,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case demonstrates how the FBI and our law enforcement partners will use all the resources at our disposal to ensure that sensitive technology doesn’t end up in the wrong hands, and those who try and circumvent U.S. law will be held accountable.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes and Trial Attorney David Lim of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
###
U.S. Attorney Young Announces $88,528 in Justice Department Grants to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $88,528 to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods Program in the District of New Hampshire. Funding will support community efforts to address the epidemic of gun crime and serious violence in the district. The grant, to the New Hampshire Department of Justice, is one of a number of awards being made to state and local agencies across the country. Funds are administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, part of the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
Launched two decades ago as an evidence-based and community-oriented response to serious gun crime, Project Safe Neighborhoods, known as PSN, is a key component of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime, outlined by Deputy Attorney General Monaco in May 2021. The PSN approach is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities; supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place; setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities; and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
“Today’s grant award will hopefully be a step toward preventing violence from occurring in the future,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “It is only by a dedicated and sustained collaboration between law enforcement and community partners that we can truly address gun violence that strikes every corner of our communities.”
“Reducing violence and sustaining those reductions will require strong partnerships between criminal justice agencies and community stakeholders and a shared commitment to the safety and well-being of every community member,” said OJP Deputy Assistant Attorney General Maureen Henneberg. “The investments we are making through Project Safe Neighborhoods will enable every stakeholder to play a part in building safer and healthier communities.”
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies and community organizations. The programs’ emphasis on community engagement, prevention and intervention measures, focused and strategic enforcement, and measurement and accountability has helped achieve overall reductions in violent crime, including gun homicides, in neighborhoods where PSN strategies have been implemented.
“Over its two-decade history, Project Safe Neighborhoods has evolved to meet the complex challenges of community violence by enlisting the insights and expertise of local partners and by relying on the latest evidence,” said BJA Director Karhlton F. Moore. “We are proud to support our U.S. Attorneys and their allies in their critical work to curb violent crime and build the mutual trust necessary to ensure lasting success.”
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about awards under PSN and other OJP grants can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime, advance racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
###
Manchester Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Sale of Fentanyl and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Jonathan Sepulveda-Lara, 44, of Manchester, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for the sale of fentanyl and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 4, 2020, an individual cooperating with the Manchester Police Department purchased 19.85 grams of fentanyl from Mr. Sepulveda-Lara. Moreover, the investigation revealed that for approximately ten years, Sepulveda-Lara used a false identity, using a Social Security number and birthdate associated with an actual Puerto Rican citizen.
“Using another person’s identity is a severe invasion of privacy. Coupling that with the sale of dangerous narcotics is conduct that jeopardizes the safety and security of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “This federal sentence reflects the seriousness of this conduct and the potentially devastating impact on our citizens.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police.
###
Rochester Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Drug Trafficking, Conspiracy, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – William Hallinan, 36, of Rochester, was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on February 2, 2020, a traffic stop of the vehicle Mr. Hallinan was driving and a subsequent search of his vehicle conducted by Somersworth Police yielded a baggie of methamphetamine, a loaded 9 mm handgun, a digital scale, and multiple unused baggies. Mr. Hallinan was also carrying roughly $900 in cash in his pocket. In a post-arrest interview, Mr. Hallinan admitted to selling drugs, and explained he carried the firearm to protect his money. On September 14, 2020, Strafford County Sheriff’s deputies conducted another motor vehicle stop of Mr. Hallinan, and during a pat check found a sheathed knife on his person, a switch blade, $1,131 in cash, 5.4 grams of crack cocaine, and a handgun. A subsequent search of his vehicle resulted in seizure of roughly 100 grams of fentanyl, 27.5 grams of methamphetamine, 24.5 grams of cocaine, a .45 caliber handgun, and $12,371 in cash. A search of Mr. Hallinan’s telephone revealed exchanges showing he conspired with his source of supply to purchase narcotics for distribution. Texts in his phone confirmed he was dealing drugs from February to September of 2020.
“Armed drug traffickers are a threat to the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Bringing these criminals to justice is a priority for the United States Attorney’s Office, so that we curb the violence and societal harm that stems from distribution of narcotics by armed criminals like the defendant.”
“Guns and drugs take far too many lives in our communities, and William Hallinan was contributing to the devastating impact of both here in New Hampshire,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “With today’s sentence, this armed drug trafficker will spend a significant time behind bars, while the FBI continues to work with our law enforcement partners to remove dangerous criminals from the streets.”
This matter was investigated by the Rochester Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande.
###
Former Nashua, New Hampshire Man Sentenced to 68 Months for Conspiracy to Distribute Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Antron Hughes, 60, formerly of Nashua, New Hampshire was sentenced to 68 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from approximately December 2022 through March 2021, Hughes conspired with another individual on five occasions to distribute quantities of cocaine base (“crack”) to an individual who was cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nashua, New Hampshire Police Department during their investigation into increased drug trafficking in the “Tree Streets” area of the city.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Hampshire Major Offender Task Force and the Nashua, New Hampshire Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer C. Davis.
###
Lowell Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Russell Graham, 42, of Lowell, MA was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Graham communicated online with an undercover law enforcement officer in New Hampshire and sent the undercover officer numerous images and videos of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Graham was arrested when he traveled to New Hampshire to meet the undercover officer. A cell phone containing additional child sexual abuse material was seized from Graham at the time of his arrest. Graham was previously convicted of possession of child pornography in Massachusetts in 2017.
The case was investigated by the Nashua Police Department with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasey A. Weiland and Georgiana MacDonald.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
###
Derry Man Sentenced to 132 Months for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Attempted Transfer of Obscene Material to a MinorRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Jason Ellis, 45, of Derry was sentenced to 132 months in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material and attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Ellis engaged in sexually graphic online conversations with numerous individuals, some of whom appeared to be minors as young as 14 years old. Several of these chats included Ellis soliciting and receiving nude images from apparent minors. Ellis also sent images of his own genitalia to apparent minors. One of the individuals that Ellis was corresponding with online was actually an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a 13-year-old girl. Ellis corresponded with the undercover and expressed his desire to meet her for sexual contact. His chats with the undercover took place over several months and included explicit discussions about sexual acts. Portions of these conversations, as well as the online accounts Ellis had used to communicate with the undercover, were later found on Ellis’ phone during the execution of a search warrant. Also found on Ellis’ phone were over 100 images of child sexual abuse material.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Derry Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey A. Weiland.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
###
Rochester Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Christopher Archambault, 56, of Rochester, was sentenced today to 72 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 24, 2020, after conducting surveillance of a residence in Weare, NH believed to be the site of drug activity, officers of the New Hampshire State Police conducted a motor vehicle stop of a car in which Mr. Archambault was a passenger. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a black cloth bag concealed in the cushion of the back passenger seat, which contained 250.6 grams of fentanyl, packaged for distribution in smaller baggies. Mr. Archambault admitted that the drugs belonged to him.
“We will prosecute drug dealers who poison the community with dangerous narcotics to the fullest extent of the law,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “This federal sentence reflects the recognized danger that narcotics, and those who sell them for a profit, pose to our state. Our office is working closely with our law enforcement partners to disrupt illegal drug distribution in a concerted effort to prevent the harm that narcotics such as fentanyl are causing New Hampshire residents.”
“DEA is committed to investigating individuals who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Let this sentence be a warning to those traffickers who distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes deadly drugs.”
This matter was investigated by New Hampshire State Police with the assistance of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Cam Le.
###
U.S. Attorney Young Calls Attention to Elder Fraud Scams and Available Government ResourcesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – In connection with a nationwide effort to bring attention to elder fraud scams, United States Attorney Jane E. Young made the following statement today, “It is paramount that we protect our elder adults from scams targeted to steal their hard-earned assets. A critical tool in combatting the scammers is education and available resources for our elder adults to access when they are asked to send money or provide personal information over the phone or via email. Scams to take advantage and exploit our seniors can take many forms, but they share a common theme—to separate seniors from the money and property they have worked their lives to obtain,” said U.S. Attorney Young. Some of the more prevalent schemes are:
- Social Security Administration Imposters – Imposters contact prospective victims by telephone and falsely claim that the victim’s Social Security number has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it has been involved in a crime. They ask to confirm the victim’s Social Security number, or they may say they need to withdraw money from the victim’s bank and to store it on gift cards or in other unusual ways for “safekeeping.” Victims may be told their accounts will be seized or frozen if they fail to act quickly.
- Romance Scams—Imposters use dating sites, social networking sites, and chat rooms to target unsuspecting seniors. They create fake profiles to build online relationships, and eventually convince people to send money in the name of love. Some even make wedding plans before disappearing with the money. An online love interest who asks for money is almost certainly a scam artist. Romance Scams operating from abroad often use U.S.-based money mules to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators. Sometimes, perpetrators of Romance Scams convince victims to serve as money mules, receiving illegal proceeds of crime and forwarding those proceeds to perpetrators. For example, Romance Scam victims often are induced to receive payments and/or goods such as technology equipment procured through fraud and to forward those payments and goods directly or indirectly to perpetrators.
- Tech Support Scams—Fraudsters make telephone calls and claim to be computer technicians associated with a well-known company or they may use internet pop-up messages to warn about non-existent computer problems. The scammers claim they have detected viruses, other malware, or hacking attempts on the victim’s computer. They pretend to be “tech support” and ask that the victim give them remote access to his or her computer. Eventually, they diagnose a non-existent problem and ask the victim to pay large sums of money for unnecessary – or even harmful – services. Tech Support Scams operating from abroad often use U.S.-based money mules (including legitimate-seeming businesses registered in the U.S.) to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators.
- Lottery Scams—Fraudulent telemarketers based in foreign countries are calling people in the U.S., telling them that they have won a sweepstakes or foreign lottery. The fraudulent telemarketers typically identify themselves as lawyers, customs officials, or lottery representatives, and tell people they have won vacations, cars or thousands — even millions — of dollars. “Winners” need only pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes. Victims pay hundreds or thousands of dollars and receive nothing in return, and often are revictimized until they have no money left. Lottery Scams operating from abroad often use U.S.-based money mules to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators.
- IRS Imposter Scams—Scammers aggressively target taxpayers, claiming to be employees of the IRS, but are not. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers. Victims are told they owe money to the IRS and it must be paid promptly through a wire transfer or stored value card such as a gift card. Victims who refuse to cooperate are threatened with arrest, deportation, or suspension of a business or driver’s license. IRS Imposter Scams operating from abroad often use U.S.-based money mules to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators.
Reporting from consumers about fraud and fraud attempts is critical to law enforcements efforts to investigate and prosecute schemes targeting older adults. If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is available the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-866 FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Department of Justice Hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professional who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting or connect them with agencies, and provide resources and referrals on a case-by-case basis. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available. More information about the Department’s elder justice efforts can be found on the Department’s Elder Justice website, www.elderjustice.gov.
More information about today’s national announcement regarding the Department’s efforts to combat elder fraud can be found at www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-expands-transnational-elder-fraud-strike-force-protect-older-americans.
Pembroke Man Pleads Guilty to Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Kyle Goff, 28, a resident of Pembroke New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm silencer that was unregistered and did not contain a serial number, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during the fall of 2020, law enforcement began a drug distribution investigation into the defendant. During this investigation, the defendant made three controlled sales of fentanyl to a confidential informant.
Based on the evidence obtained from these controlled sales, law enforcement obtained and executed a search warrant of the defendant's home and car. The search of the defendant's home resulted in the seizure of over 390 grams of fentanyl from a safe in the defendant's bedroom. In addition, the police found a firearm silencer that did not contain a serial number in the house. The silencer was also not registered on the national firearms registry.
Goff is scheduled for sentencing on January 17, 2023.
The case was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police Drug Task Force, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force and the Pembroke Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Anna Dronzek and Seth R. Aframe.
###
Former IRS Employee Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining $62,300 in CARES Act FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Charles Clark, 64, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in July 2020, Clark fraudulently applied for a loan under the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Congress had authorized multiple relief programs, including EIDL, to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the early stages of the COVID pandemic. EIDL funds were issued by the Small Business Administration and were to be used for limited purposes such as payroll expenses, sick leave, and production costs.
In his EIDL application, Clark falsely claimed to have been an independent contractor working in the “Hair & Nail Salon” industry when he was working as a full-time IRS employee. He obtained $62,300 in funds which he then misused by spending them on renovating an investment property he owned.
Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on January 5, 2023.
The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
###
Northwood Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Attempting to Obtain over $3.5 Million in CARES Act FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Joshua Leavitt, 40, of Northwood, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud and wire fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between March 2020 and November 2021, Leavitt and his co-defendant fraudulently applied for over two dozen loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. Congress had authorized the PPP and EIDL relief programs to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the early stages of the COVID pandemic. PPP loans were issued by private lenders but fully guaranteed by the government, and EIDL funds were issued by the Small Business Administration.
For example, Leavitt and his co-defendant applied for and obtained a $175,000 PPP loan from TD Bank for one of their companies, Puro Group. The application claimed that Puro Group’s monthly payroll was $70,000 and that the company had six employees.
In connection with this application, Leavitt and his co-defendant submitted false supporting documents. One of those documents was a false IRS Form 941, or quarterly tax return, for the first quarter 2020. The document, which the defendants purportedly filed with the IRS, claimed that Puro Group had five employees that quarter who were paid a total of $209,999.99. The document also claimed that the defendants paid actual federal income tax of $27,600 that quarter. However, that document was never filed with the IRS. The real tax filings showed that Puro Group paid $48,255.53 to its employees during the entire calendar year of 2020, or approximately $4,000 per month.
As another example of the fraud, Leavitt and his co-defendant applied for, and obtained a $29,000 EIDL and $7,000 Economic Injury Disaster Grant for another of their companies, Monticello Transnational. They falsely claimed that Monticello Transnational’s gross revenues for the year preceding January 31, 2020, was $75,000 and that the company had seven employees. However, bank records showed no payments to employees and that the company had only a few thousand dollars’ worth of deposits. In addition, there were no tax filings for the company for 2019 or the first quarter of 2020.
In total, Leavitt and his co-defendant attempted to fraudulently obtain more than $3.5 million in PPP and EIDL funds. Leavitt will be required to pay restitution of $869,475.50.
Leavitt is scheduled to be sentenced on January 11, 2023.
Leavitt’s co-defendant has pleaded not guilty. The charges in the indictment are only allegations. He is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Secret Service, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
###
Massachusetts Man Arrested with Ten Kilograms of Fentanyl Packaged for DistributionRead the Press Release
CONCORD –Johan M. Rodriguez, 37, of Lawrence, Massachusetts was charged in a criminal complaint today, with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, specifically, fentanyl, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Rodriguez was arrested in Dover, New Hampshire on September 26, 2022, and is scheduled to make an initial court appearance in the District of New Hampshire today at 3:00 pm.
The criminal complaint filed in court alleges that on September 26, 2022, Rodriguez hired an Uber to drive him from Lawrence, Massachusetts to a residence in Dover to deliver approximately ten kilograms of fentanyl for a Lawrence-based drug supplier. Law enforcement surveilled Rodriguez as he removed a toolbox and tool bag from the Uber’s trunk and carried them to the door of the residence where law enforcement encountered him. A search of the toolbox resulted in the seizure of approximately ten kilograms of suspected fentanyl which was separated into individual bundles ready for distribution.
The charges in the criminal complaint are only allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New Hampshire Major Offender Task Force and was assisted by the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office’s - Problem Solving Oriented Policing Unit, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office’s - Drug Task Force, and the Dover Police Department.
###
Massachusetts Man Indicted for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Garrito “Tony” Fort, 38, of Randolph, Massachusetts was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 1, 2022, which charged him with one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
Fort was arrested in Rhode Island on September 19, 2022, and he is scheduled to make an initial court appearance in the District of New Hampshire on September 20, 2022 at 4:45 pm.
The indictment filed in court alleges that on November 1, 2021, Fort, who had previously been convicted of a felony offense, unlawfully possessed a Taurus 9mm caliber pistol and assorted 9mm ammunition. The alleged conduct occurred in Seabrook, New Hampshire.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Seabrook Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from Salisbury, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Portsmouth, and Exeter police departments.
###
Littleton Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Katie Ricker, 22, of Littleton, New Hampshire, and formerly of South Ryegate, Vermont, pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2018 and October 2021, Ricker was employed in various positions by a company in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire. In or about October 2021, Ricker stole blank checks belonging to the company. She wrote fraudulent checks addressed to herself, her co-defendant William Hill, and others to transfer funds from the company’s account to her joint bank account with Hill. Ricker forged the signature of the employee authorized to sign on the company’s account. The defendants were caught on camera cashing some of the fraudulent checks. In total, Ricker stole $46,055.35 from the company.
Ricker is scheduled to be sentenced on December 29, 2022. Hill pled guilty on June 27, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Sugar Hill Police Department and Lisbon Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
###
Former Hinsdale Man Pleads Guilty to Crack Cocaine Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Michael Racine, 50, formerly of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in August 2019, Racine worked with another individual to distribute crack cocaine in and around the Hinsdale, New Hampshire and Brattleboro, VT areas. Specifically, on at least two occasions, investigators either directly or through intermediaries purchased crack cocaine from Racine. On a third occasion, Racine fled after being provided with buy money but before providing the crack cocaine. Racine was arrested in February 2022, and has been detained pending trial.
Racine is scheduled to be sentenced on January 9, 2023.
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Keene, NH Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
###
New York Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Possession with Intent to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Darvent Cummings, 31, of Brooklyn, New York was sentenced to 72 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 30, 2020, a New Hampshire State Trooper stopped a vehicle in which Cummings was a passenger based on a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle did not have a license and the driver and the defendant gave inconsistent stories about their travel itineraries. The driver was asked if there was anything illegal in the car and then started to cry. The driver eventually told the trooper that there were drugs in the car. A search of the car revealed two small bricks wrapped in duct tape, which later tested positive for more than 500 grams of fentanyl.
The case was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth R. Aframe and John J. Kennedy.
###
Manchester Man Sentenced for Possession of Child Sex Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Michael Dukette, 31, of Manchester, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possession of child sex abuse material, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in June 2018 an individual reported potential child exploitation images to the Hudson Police Department. The individual had lent an iPhone to another person and after it was returned, the individual found an email containing four videos that showed Dukette sexually exploiting a sleeping child. Dukette subsequently admitted to police during voluntary interviews that he made and kept the videos. Further investigation revealed the child in the videos was five years old at the time the videos were made.
Dukette, who pleaded guilty on April 5, 2022, will be on supervised release for 5 years after serving his prison sentence.
“The production of child sex abuse materials victimizes the most vulnerable members of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Protecting children from harm is a paramount obligation of the law enforcement community, and the United States Attorney’s Office will aggressively investigate and prosecute these crimes. I am grateful for the hard work of our law enforcement partners who assisted us in holding this defendant accountable.”
“This case shows that when members of the public come forward when they see something wrong, it can help put offenders like Dukette behind bars. To possess child sexual abuse material is to possess the permanent documentation of the sexual exploitation of a child. HSI is committed to pursuing anyone who participates in these crimes and bringing them to justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Matthew Millhollin for Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
This matter was investigated by the Hudson Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, and Homeland Security Investigations.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
###
Keene Woman Pleads Guilty to Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting BusinessRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Aria DiMezzo, 35, of Keene, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between June 2020 and January 2021, DiMezzo operated a business in New Hampshire through which she exchanged fiat currency (mostly United States dollars) for virtual currency for a fee. DiMezzo recruited customers on websites, including localbitcoins.com, who sent money to her through bank accounts opened in her name and in the name of the Reformed Satanic Church, an organization she created. DiMezzo then sent customers bitcoin or other virtual currency in return. DiMezzo sold more than $1.5 million worth of virtual currency through the bank accounts that she operated as part of the business. DiMezzo did not register her business as a money transmitting business and she did not comply with any of the various regulations imposed on money transmitting businesses. For example, at no time did DiMezzo file currency transaction reports for transactions over $10,000, or suspicious activity reports for transactions over $2,000 that may involve funds derived from illegal activity, among other things.
DiMezzo is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service in coordination with the U.S. Treasury Department Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team also assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald, John J. Kennedy, and Seth R. Aframe.
###
Dover Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking of a MinorRead the Press Release
CONCORD –Tyler Townsend, 28, of Dover pled guilty in federal court on Friday to one count of sex trafficking of a minor, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Townsend posted online advertisements offering a minor female for commercial sex on a now-defunct website in 2017. The online account used to post the advertisements was linked to Townsend through email and phone records. Townsend often dealt directly with the individuals who responded to the advertisements, negotiating terms and discussing prices. He also frequently accompanied the minor female and collected the money that was paid by the individuals in exchange for sex with the minor female.
Townsend is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19, 2022.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Dover Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasey Weiland and Anna Dronzek.
###
Michael Chick Indicted for CyberstalkingRead the Press Release
CONCORD –Michael Chick, 39, of Eliot, ME, was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of cyberstalking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
Chick was arrested on a criminal complaint on August 5, 2022, following the execution of a search warrant at his residence. He is being detained pending trial.
Chick is accused of stalking and threatening a Greenland child who was on his bus route. The indictment alleges that Chick provided cell phones to the child and used the cell phones to communicate with the child after being warned to cease all contact. Chick is also alleged to have placed GPS tracking devices on the parents’ vehicles and to have walked around the outside of the child’s home at night on numerous occasions.
The charge in the indictment is only an allegation. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Greenland Police Department.
Anyone with information pertinent to this investigation is asked to call HSI’s tipline at 603-722-1751.
###
New York Woman Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Mary Baird, 55, of New York, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 2020 and May 2021, Baird entered Citizens Bank branches in New Hampshire and other states on at least 13 separate occasions. She presented means of identification, including Social Security numbers, belonging to real Citizens Bank account holders. Baird then attempted to cash fraudulent checks addressed to those account holders or withdraw funds from their accounts. In total, on these 13 occasions, Baird obtained $36,780 and attempted to fraudulently obtain another $15,450.
After Baird was arrested in this case and released on conditions, she traveled to Pennsylvania and attempted to cash a fraudulent check for $4,990 addressed to another victim. In connection with that failed attempt, Baird presented a fake New Jersey’s driver’s license with that victim’s name.
Baird is scheduled to be sentenced on December 19, 2022.
The case was investigated by the Secret Service. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
###
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Steal FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – William Guerrero, 21, of Brighton, Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to steal firearms from a New Hampshire Federal Firearm Licensee, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 23, 2022, Guerrero drove a stolen vehicle into the parking lot of Shooters Outpost, a Federal Firearm Licensee in Hooksett, New Hampshire. Surveillance footage shows Guerrero and three other men attempting to get into the store by smashing a window by the rear door. The previous day, using the same stolen vehicle, three of the four men attempted to gain access to three other Federal Firearm Licensees in New Hampshire. Following his arrest, a search of Guerrero’s telephones revealed a conversation in which he and his co-conspirators discussed breaking into gun stores.
Guerrero is scheduled to be sentenced on November 28, 2022.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Andover Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Methuen Police Department, the Milford Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Salem (NH) Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski and John J. Kennedy
###
U.S. Attorney's Office Reaches A Settlement Agreement to Ensure ADA Compliance at Eastern Mountain Sports StoresRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire recently entered into an agreement with Mountain Sports, LLC, to ensure that all Eastern Mountain Sports stores are in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”).
Mountain Sports, doing business as Eastern Mountain Sports, operates over twenty retail stores throughout the United States, seven of which are in New Hampshire. The United States conducted an investigation after receiving a complaint about disability access to the stores.
Mountain Sports has agreed to implement a nationwide policy that will prevent its employees from placing items such as merchandise, shopping carts, or boxes, in its stores’ aisles or pathways. Mountain Sports has also agreed to provide training to its employees to ensure that they are compliant with this policy.
U.S. Attorney Young said, “This agreement ensures that people with disabilities will have an equal opportunity to enjoy the same retail shopping experience other patrons enjoy. I applaud the company for its commitment to making its stores accessible. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to protecting the rights of those with disabilities.”
The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities by public accommodations, such as retail stores. Public accommodations must allow people with disabilities the full and equal enjoyment of their goods, services, and facilities.
More information regarding maintaining accessible features in retail establishments may be found at www.ada.gov/business/retail_access.htm. Any member of the public who wishes to file a complaint alleging that any place of public accommodation is not accessible to persons with disabilities may file a complaint online at www.ada.gov or contact the U.S. Attorney’s Office at (603) 225-2552.
The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael Katz.
###
Wolfeboro Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Possessing with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – David Carlton Hall, 39, of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, was sentenced today to 60 months in federal prison for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 19, 2021, a Portsmouth New Hampshire police officer attempted to stop Hall’s vehicle for making an illegal U-turn and failing to signal. Hall initially pulled over, but when the officer stepped out of his cruiser, Hall took off at high speed. Hall stopped at the gate to Pease Air National Guard Base, unlawfully entered the base on foot, and fled into the woods.
Inside the abandoned vehicle, officers found a bag containing 50 grams of fentanyl, which Hall admitted was intended for distribution. Hall was eventually apprehended by Deputy U.S. Marshals in San Diego, California.
Hall previously pleaded guilty on April 12, 2022.
“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Hall accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarad Hodes and Anna Krasinski.
###
Vermont Man Sentenced to 77 Months for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Trevor Allen, 30, formerly of Vermont, was sentenced today to 77 months in federal prison for bank robbery, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 28, 2018, Allen walked into the Claremont Savings Bank branch in Charlestown, New Hampshire, handed the teller a note demanding money, and showed the teller what subsequent investigation determined to be a BB gun. The teller gave Allen $2,485 cash. Surveillance cameras captured images of the robbery, which were broadcast on local news outlets. Numerous individuals identified Allen from the photographs and he was apprehended two days later.
Allen previously pleaded guilty on November 16, 2021 to one count of bank robbery.
“Bank robberies are violent crimes that place the safety of bank employees, customers, and other members of the community in jeopardy,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with the law enforcement community to combat these kinds of dangerous offenses. By combatting violent crime, our goal is to ensure that the citizens of the Granite State feel safe as they conduct their daily business in their local communities.”
“Today’s sentence holds Trevor Allen accountable for targeting this financial institution and instilling fear in innocent employees and bystanders. It also is a warning to others that if you commit bank robbery or any other violent crime in New Hampshire you will face serious consequences for your unlawful actions,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the Charlestown Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek.
###
Nurse Arrested for Diversion of Controlled SubstancesRead the Press Release
Amy J. Vickers, 44, of Bradford, Vermont was arrested today on a complaint charging her with obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to the complaint, on June 17, 2022, Vickers was working as a nurse at Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital in Lebanon, New Hampshire, when hospital personnel noticed a discrepancy regarding the purported disposal of a dosage of hydromorphone. When confronted with the discrepancy, Vickers is alleged to have admitted to diverting the substance for her personal use, and having done so repeatedly over the course of a few months. It is not believed that any patients were affected by Vickers’ diversion of medications.
Vickers was arrested on August 8 and had an initial appearance before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. She was released pending further proceedings.
This matter is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the Lebanon Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
The charges in the complaint are only allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Eliot Maine Man Charged with Interstate StalkingRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Michael Chick, 39, of Eliot, Maine, was charged via complaint in federal court with interstate stalking, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
Chick was arrested without incident on Friday evening in Eliot, Maine. According to court documents and statements made in court, Chick was employed as a school bus driver and was assigned to bus routes servicing the Greenland Central School in Greenland, New Hampshire. Chick is alleged to have threatened a child attending the Greenland Central School and threatening the child’s family, and to have travelled from Maine to New Hampshire to make the threats.
Chick had an initial appearance hearing in federal district court this afternoon. The Court ordered him detained pending a detention hearing scheduled for August 18, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the Greenland Police Department, the Eliot, Maine Police Department, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kasey Weiland.
The charges contained in the complaint are allegations. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Connecticut Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Participating in a Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Victor Tejada-Gonzalez, 31, of Waterbury, Connecticut was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Tejada-Gonzalez operated as part of drug-distribution conspiracy out of Lawrence, Massachusetts, delivering fentanyl to co-conspirators for further distribution into New Hampshire and other places throughout New England. Specifically, on October 30, 2020, intercepted calls and surveillance captured Tejada-Gonzalez travelling to Lawrence to deliver a kilogram of fentanyl to a co-conspirator, Manuel Emilio Delacruz-Diaz. On November 19, 2020, United States Drug Enforcement agents conducted a traffic stop of the defendant in New York and he was found to be in possession of over 400 grams of fentanyl. Tejada-Gonzalez told agents that he worked with Delacruz-Diaz.
“Drug traffickers like the defendant who distribute fentanyl into New Hampshire endanger the lives and well-being of our state’s residents,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “This sentence demonstrates that those who conspire to sell fentanyl in the Granite State will face significant incarceration for their unlawful conduct.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Massachusetts State Police, the Methuen Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, and the Nashua Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth R. Aframe and John J. Kennedy
###
Portsmouth Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession with the Intent to Distribute Large Quantities of "Ice" Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD -Robert Corson, 33, formerly of Portsmouth, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of unlawful possession with intent to distribute 40 grams and more of fentanyl and 5 grams and more of “ice” methamphetamine, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 28, 2021, the FBI arrested Corson on federal drug trafficking charges outside of Corson’s storage unit at a storage facility in Portsmouth. When he was arrested, Corson was wearing a fanny pack around his waist that contained multiple baggies of fentanyl packaged for sale. The FBI subsequently searched Corson’s storage unit and seized approximately 294 grams of “ice” methamphetamine, 231 grams of fentanyl and other items associated with drug trafficking.
Corson is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the FBI NH Major Offender Task Force, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
###
Danville Woman Pleads Guilty to Stealing over $66,000 from Saint Anselm CollegeRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Renee Crawford, 35, of Danville pleaded guilty in federal court today to embezzling more than $66,000 from Saint Anselm College, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Crawford was employed as the Assistant Vice President of Finance for the College. In her role, Crawford had authority to manage invoice approvals, enter vendor information, and had oversight of the Finance Office’s credit card program.
Crawford used her access to submit fraudulent invoices for a company that she created, receiving more than $44,000 from the College which she used for personal purchases. In addition, Crawford used two College issued credit cards to make personal purchases, such as family vacations and theme park tickets, totaling nearly $22,000.
Crawford is currently scheduled to be sentenced on November 14, 2022.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Goffstown Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy
###
Rochester Woman Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements to Obtain Social Security BenefitsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jeannette Doyon, 49, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Doyon was receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Because SSI benefits are tied to household income, Social Security requires that SSI recipients notify the agency of changes to their household. Doyon married her spouse in April 2014. Because her spouse’s income now counted towards her household income, Doyon’s monthly benefits were reduced.
In response, Doyon submitted a false statement to Social Security claiming that her spouse had moved out of her home and was no longer part of her household. This resulted in her benefits increasing. Doyon repeated this false statement to Social Security for several years to keep getting more benefits. Throughout this time, Doyon and her spouse continuously lived together. Because of her false statement, Doyon received $46,625.60 in SSI benefits she was not entitled to receive.
Doyon is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
###
New York Man Pleads Guilty to Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Robert Willim, 63, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty in federal court to bank fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 14, 2020 and September 18, 2020, Willim entered Citizen Bank branches in New Hampshire and other states and presented counterfeit Passport cards belonging to account holders. Willim then cashed fraudulent checks addressed to the account holders. The checks usually had the account holders’ real Social Security numbers on them. In total, Willim fraudulently obtained $27,102.05 and unsuccessfully attempted to cash additional fraudulent checks totaling another $16,784.20.
Willim is scheduled to be sentenced on December 6, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
###
Recidivist Manchester Drug Dealer Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
Kermit Ceasar, 45, of Manchester, was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of cocaine distribution and six counts of crack cocaine distribution, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
The convictions resulted from a series of drug sales that Ceasar made in Manchester to an undercover informant between April and September of 2021. This case is Ceasar's third federal drug conviction in the District of New Hampshire.
"Kermit Ceasar is a recidivist drug dealer who, for his entire adult life when not imprisoned, has been selling crack cocaine in Manchester. Today's significant sentence will hopefully send the message to those who traffic crack cocaine that my office will take all steps possible to protect the public from recidivist drug dealers," said U.S. Attorney Young. "Seeking lengthy periods of incarceration for cases like this are a critical facet to keeping our communities safe from career criminals."
“Kermit Ceasar has trafficked crack cocaine his entire adult life. In fact, the only time he was not dealing crack was when he was behind bars, which, sadly has been for approximately 20 of the last 27 years. Through his own actions, he has repeatedly degraded the community in which he lives and put public safety at risk," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Today’s sentencing should send a strong message to recidivist drug dealers in New Hampshire that they will face significant consequences for their criminal conduct."
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth R. Aframe.
###
North Carolina Woman Pleads Guilty to Selling Unapproved Covid-19 RemediesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Diana Daffin, 69, of Charlotte, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to selling unapproved drugs with the intent to defraud or mislead the FDA, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Diana Daffin owned and operated a holistic medicine company called Savvy Holistic Health doing business as Holistic Healthy Pet. In March 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) learned that Daffin was selling unapproved drugs on her website, with the brand name HAMPL, that Daffin claimed were COVID-19 remedies and treatments. In April and August of 2020, the FDA sent Daffin warning letters explaining that various products she was selling—including the HAMPL COVID-19 drugs—were adulterated, misbranded, and unapproved drugs and that she should take immediate action to correct the violation. Daffin responded by telling the FDA that she removed the products from her website and would stop distributing them.
However, Daffin did not stop selling the products. Instead, she continued to distribute the unapproved COVID-19 drugs and took steps to defraud and mislead the FDA. For example, she continued to sell unapproved HAMPL brand drugs by moving them to a password protected website, telling one customer that this was her “way of evading the FDA.”
In February 2021, Daffin sold an undercover law enforcement officer a HAMPL product that she advertised as a drug that could cure, mitigate, treat, and prevent COVID-19 in humans. In an email leading up to the sale, Daffin told the undercover officer, “This stuff does work for covid, but fda shut it down.” Daffin later sold and shipped the undercover agent the unapproved HAMPL-brand COVID-19 drug and other unapproved drugs.
On March 5, 2021, the undercover agent in New Hampshire received HAMPL drugs sold by Daffin, including the purported COVID-19 remedy. The label stated that it provided “a stronger immunity against CV” and promised “Immunity for Humans.”
Daffin is scheduled to be sentenced on November 2, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration-Office of Criminal Investigations, Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Hunter and Georgiana L. MacDonald.
###
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
###
Manchester Man Sentenced to 42 Months for Conspiring to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Timothy Spaulding, 23, of Manchester, was sentenced today to 42 months in federal prison in connection with his role in a cocaine distribution conspiracy, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 6, 2021, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on a hotel room where Spaulding was staying with his girlfriend. During the search of the hotel room, law enforcement officers located a black backpack containing documents and receipts in the name of the defendant, a scale and 45.9 grams of cocaine. A 9mm pistol was also located on a table in the room. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on Spaulding’s phone and retrieved messages about drug distribution.
Spaulding previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine on February 9, 2022.
“Drug dealers who have access to guns threaten the safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “This federal sentence reflects the dangerous combination that drugs and guns pose to the community. We are working closely with the Manchester Police Department to prosecute drug dealers who have access to guns and destroy communities with their drugs.”
“This case is a prime example of the focused policing efforts the Manchester Police Department and our partners are undertaking as part of our CompStat360 Gun Violence Reduction Strategy,” said Manchester Chief of Police Allen Aldenberg. “Timothy Spaulding represents the dangerous offenders we are targeting in Manchester. Drug sales and associated gun violence are a top priority and coordinated efforts with our federal partners at the FBI and US Attorney’s Office significantly impact community safety in Manchester.”
This matter was investigated by Manchester Police Department with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Krasinski and Debra M. Walsh.
###
Somersworth Man Sentenced to 39 Months on a Charge of Possession of an Improvised Explosive BombRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Ryan Cortina, 34, of Somersworth, was sentenced to 39 months in federal prison for possession of an unregistered NFA firearm, an improvised explosive bomb, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 23, 2019, the Somersworth Police Department received information from a confidential informant (CI) that Cortina possessed destructive devices at his Somersworth residence. The CI claimed Cortina showed him a “grenade” he had built. Officers applied for a search warrant for Cortina’s residence. While executing the warrant on September 27, 2019, officers located five suspected destructive devices in a duffle bag. Further analysis showed that one of the devices was an improvised explosive bomb which therefore should have been registered in accordance with Federal Firearms Registration.
“The improvised explosive bomb seized from the defendant’s home placed his neighbors and the community in danger,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Thanks to good police work, law enforcement officers were able to secure the potentially-deadly device and prevent individuals from being harmed.”
“This investigation is an example of the hard work of ATF special agents and the excellent cooperation we have with our law enforcement partners,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Boston Field Division. “Because of this cooperation, we were able to seize these dangerous destructive devices and ensured they never found their way into our communities.”
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Somersworth Police Department with the assistance of New Hampshire State Police and FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M. Walsh.
The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.
###
Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing More Than 400 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Dawson Boston, 23, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of distribution of fentanyl, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in February 2019, the FBI learned that Boston was selling fentanyl in the Rochester area. Between April 9, 2019 and July 29, 2019, the FBI used informants to make six controlled purchases from Boston, resulting in the purchase of a total of approximately 489 grams of fentanyl.
Boston is scheduled to be sentenced on November 7, 2022.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Dover Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek.
###
Massachusetts Men Indicted for Conspiring to Steal 12 FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Jaythean Diaz, 19, of Lawrence and Gary Ortiz, 18, of Haverhill, were indicted by a federal grand jury on July 11, 2022, and charged with one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a New Hampshire Federal Firearm Licensee, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
Diaz and Ortiz were arrested in Lawrence today and released on electronic monitoring and a 8:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew.
The indictment filed in court alleges that between on or about December 6, 2021, and on or about December 8, 2021, in the District of New Hampshire and elsewhere, the two men conspired with each other and with other persons to steal firearms from Second Amendment Arms, a Derry, New Hampshire Federal Firearms Licensee. During the course of the conspiracy, the indictment alleges that the men stole 12 firearms.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Andover Police Department, the Atkinson Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Derry Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Methuen Police Department, the Milford Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Salem (NH) Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department.
###
Intertech Trading Corp. Pleads Guilty to 14 Felonies for Failure to File Export Information on Shipments of Lab Equipment to Russia and UkraineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Intertech Trading Corporation, an Atkinson, New Hampshire-based laboratory equipment distributor, pleaded guilty in federal court to 14 felony counts of failure to file export information on shipments to Russia and Ukraine, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between 2015 and 2019, Intertech exported laboratory equipment to Russia, Ukraine, and elsewhere, falsely describing the nature and value of the exported items on the commercial invoices and shipping forms. In its plea agreement, Intertech admitted that it used false, innocuous descriptions such as “lamp for aquarium” or “spares for welding system,” rather than accurately identifying the sophisticated scientific equipment actually contained in the shipments. Intertech admitted that it drastically undervalued the shipments, thereby evading the requirement to file Electronic Export Information, which would have been reported to the Departments of Commerce and Homeland Security.
Intertech is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17, 2022. If the court accepts the terms of the binding plea agreement, Intertech will pay the maximum allowable fine of $10,000 per count and be subject to a two-year term of corporate probation and monitoring.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes and Trial Attorney David Lim of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section.
###
Manchester Man Sentenced to More Than Seven Years in Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Wilgfrido Valnodis Arias-Mejia, 46, a citizen of the Dominican Republic most recently residing in Manchester, was sentenced today to 91 months in federal prison for conspiring to sell fentanyl and other substances around the Manchester area, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Arias-Mejia, also known as “Chino,” was a prolific drug distributor who sold fentanyl and crack cocaine from at least 2018 to November 27, 2019, in the Manchester area. He ran a drug ring during that time period, selling large quantities of fentanyl and other controlled substances, and employing various co-conspirators to sell drugs on his behalf. The defendant provided his employees with pre-packaged bags containing multiple “fingers” (10-gram packages) of fentanyl and smaller baggies containing fentanyl, powder cocaine, and crack cocaine, and he would re-supply his co-conspirators as soon as each package was sold.
Arias-Mejia previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including more than 40 grams of fentanyl, on March 3, 2021. He is the last of five defendants in the conspiracy to be sentenced.
“This defendant was a major drug trafficker in the Manchester area who endangered the community by selling drugs directly to New Hampshire residents, and through others he recruited to do his bidding for him,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “He is the last in this conspiracy to be sentenced, and he is the most culpable. We will continue to work together with our law enforcement partners to keep drugs off the streets of our communities and hold drug traffickers like Arias-Mejia accountable for their crimes.”
“Wilgfrido Valnodis Arias-Mejia led a major drug trafficking organization, selling deadly narcotics to a region hit hard by the opioid epidemic. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for setting up multiple drug distribution houses in Manchester that profited from endangering the safety of our communities,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to crack down on illegal drug trafficking by investigating the criminal organizations behind it.”
“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals like Mr. Arias-Mejia who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Let this sentence be a warning to those traffickers who distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes deadly drugs.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Manchester Police Department and Nashua Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana MacDonald and Aaron Gingrande.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
###
Former Maine Woman Sentenced to 48 Months for Stealing over $500,000 from New Hampshire CompanyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jessica Pechtel, 35, now of Andover, Massachusetts and formerly of Springvale, Maine, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison today for embezzling over a half million dollars, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Pechtel was the office manager for a company in Somersworth, New Hampshire. In that role, she had full access to the company’s finances, including its accounting records, bank accounts, and company credit card.
Pechtel used her access to the company’s finances to make unauthorized purchases and transfers of funds to accounts that she controlled. Pechtel engaged in a multifaceted scheme for at least a year and a half to steal the funds. First, she transferred funds from the company’s bank accounts to her own accounts. Additionally, she used the company’s credit card to make unauthorized purchases from retailers such as Amazon or make payments via the online payment transfer system Venmo. Pechtel also drafted 17 unauthorized checks payable to herself that were drawn on the company’s bank account. And lastly, she stole almost $44,000 in COVID-19 relief funds that were intended for the company.
Pechtel also took steps to conceal her embezzlement. For example, she created and controlled a PayPal account in the name of one of her coworkers to transfer funds. Additionally, she manipulated the company’s accounting records to make her fraudulent transfers appear like payments to legitimate vendors.
Overall, Pechtel fraudulently obtained at least $587,219 from her employer. Those funds were used for various personal expenses such as Amazon purchases and the purchase of a boat.
Pechtel previously pleaded guilty to one count of Wire Fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343, on March 23, 2022.
“The defendant brazenly stole from her trusted employer’s funds, including COVID-19 relief funds the company received to help it through the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “In a sophisticated effort to cover her crimes, she manipulated the company’s record keeping. The repeated cunning that the defendant employed allowed her to steal more than a half-million dollars. Those convicted of violating the trust of others for personal profit will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“The U.S. Secret Service is committed to investigating complex fraud schemes that significantly damage the financial stability of small business owners in New Hampshire,” stated Timothy Benitez, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service. “The outcome is a direct result of the coordination between local law enforcement participating on the Secret Service New England Cyber Fraud Task Force.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Somersworth Police Department and the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
###
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
###
California and New Hampshire Men Indicted for Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain $5 Million in CARES Act FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Pierre Rogers, 43, of Irvine, California, and Joshua Leavitt, 40, of Northwood, New Hampshire were indicted by a federal grand jury on Monday and charged with multiple counts of bank fraud, wire fraud, and attempted wire fraud, United States Attorney Jane E. Young and William A. Kalb, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Northeast Field Division announced today. Rogers was also charged with money laundering.
Leavitt was arrested this morning and was released on conditions pending trial. Rogers’s appearance is being secured.
The indictment filed in court alleges that the defendants owned and operated at least seven companies, including Dark Matter Associates, Puro Trader (d/b/a Yayhn), Puro Group, and Puro Lounge. During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Private lenders could participate in the PPP program. The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government. If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness. The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage.
In 2020 and 2021, Rogers and Leavitt applied for over two dozen PPP and EIDL loans for their companies. They submitted false documents, including fabricated tax documents, which inflated their size and payroll. Because PPP and EIDL loan size was tied to payroll and the number of employees a company had, the defendants were able to apply for and obtain larger loans. In total, the defendants applied for approximately $2 million in PPP loans and $3 million in EIDL funds.
The defendants also misused at least some of the loan proceeds. For example, Rogers and Leavitt obtained a $175,000 PPP loan for Puro Group using fraudulent documents. As charged in the indictment, Rogers used $107,780 of those funds to purchase a luxury vehicle, a Rolls Royce Ghost.
The charges in the indictment are only allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The case was investigated by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and Secret Service, with assistance from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
###
Justice Department's Criminal Division Creates New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force to Focus on Illegal Opioid PrescriptionsRead the Press Release
New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force to Combat Unlawful Prescribing Amidst Continuing Opioid Epidemic
CONCORD, N.H. – Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division today announced the formation of the New England Prescription Opioid (NEPO) Strike Force, a joint law enforcement effort that brings together the resources and expertise of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for three federal districts, as well as law enforcement partners at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the FBI. The mission of the NEPO Strike Force is to identify and investigate health care fraud schemes in the New England region, and to effectively and efficiently prosecute individuals involved in the illegal distribution of prescription opioids and other prescribed controlled substances. The NEPO Strike Force will primarily target criminal conduct by physicians, pharmacists, and other medical professionals, focusing upon both health care fraud and drug diversion offenses, as relevant based upon the facts of the particular case.
“This NEPO Strike Force expands and sharpens the Justice Department’s response to the nation’s opioid epidemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “In the last year, more than 75,000 people in the United States lost their lives due to overdose. Since 2018, some of the greatest spikes in the drug overdose death rate have occurred in New England. The NEPO Strike Force will help to address one of the root causes of the epidemic: unlawful prescription and diversion of opioids. Together with our partners, we will fulfill the department’s solemn promise to deploy critical resources to address the opioid crisis.”
Assistant Attorney General Polite was joined in the announcement in Concord, New Hampshire, by U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young for the District of New Hampshire; U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine; U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest for the District of Vermont; Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of HHS-OIG; Assistant Administrator Kristi N. O’Malley of the DEA Diversion Control Division; and Acting Deputy Assistant Director Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division.
“The formation of NEPO presents a tremendous opportunity for our three Northern New England states to disrupt the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young for the District of New Hampshire. “As a state, we are grateful to the Department of Justice to be part of this initiative and excited that it will be based here in New Hampshire.”
“Maine’s opioid overdose death rate has skyrocketed, and law enforcement has identified the opioid epidemic as the number one issue officers face,” said U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee for the District of Maine. “While the trafficking of illegal drugs, in particular fentanyl, is well publicized, 23% of overdose deaths in Maine are the result of pharmaceutical opioids, and many of those who died from illicit substances very likely first tried pharmaceuticals, either their own or those of a friend or family member. This Strike Force will provide vital resources to help fight a growing epidemic, and along with our partners, we will pursue any medical personnel who misuse their position to endanger lives through the overprescribing of opioids for their own financial gain.”
“The announcement of the New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force demonstrates the Department of Justice’s commitment to working with our law enforcement partners in Vermont and elsewhere to hold accountable health care providers who exploit the opioid epidemic for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest for the District of Vermont. “Health care providers who issue illegal opioid prescriptions undermine important efforts to address the epidemic while putting patients at risk of overdose and physical harm.”
“HHS-OIG is unwavering in our commitment to hold accountable providers who illegally prescribe opioids for personal profit while neglecting the safety and wellbeing of their patients,” said Inspector General Christi A. Grimm of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Along with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG is proud to support the New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force in a collaborative effort to assist communities plagued by the opioid epidemic.”
“At a time when the United States is losing tens of thousands of Americans to opioid overdoses every year, it has never been more critical to ensure doctors and healthcare practitioners are prioritizing the safety and health of their patients,” said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. “The creation of the New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force further strengthens our important cooperation with partners in the region to hold accountable any practitioner who recklessly distributes opioid medications.”
“The formation of the New England Prescription Opioid Strike Force provides the FBI and our law enforcement partners with important collective resources to combat health care fraud and drug diversion schemes within the region,” said Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “The FBI will not tolerate those medical professionals willing to sacrifice patients’ health for their personal profit and will work tirelessly to root out and bring to justice those individuals who illegally distribute prescription opioids and other controlled substances.”
The NEPO Strike Force will operate as a partnership between prosecutors and data analysts with the Fraud Section’s Health Care Fraud Unit, prosecutors with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont, and special agents with HHS-OIG, DEA, and the FBI. It will operate out of the Concord, New Hampshire, area, supporting the three districts that make up the NEPO Strike Force region. In addition, the NEPO Strike Force will work closely with other federal and state law enforcement agencies, including the State Medicaid Fraud Control Units.
Today’s NEPO Strike Force announcement builds on the demonstrated success of the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in late 2018, ARPO has partnered with federal and state law enforcement agencies and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices throughout Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia to prosecute medical professionals and others involved in the illegal prescription and distribution of opioids. Over the past three years, ARPO has charged 111 defendants, collectively responsible for issuing prescriptions for over 115,000,000 controlled substance pills. To date, more than 60 ARPO defendants have been convicted.
*********
For anyone needing information about available treatment programs, it is available as follows:
New Hampshire: For a referral to addiction treatment services, please call 211. If you or a loved one is in a substance use crisis please call/text the New Hampshire Rapid Response Access Point at 1-833-710-6477. New Hampshire residents can call and speak to trained and caring clinical staff 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Maine: The Overdose Prevention Through Intensive Outreach Naloxone and Safety (OPTIONS) initiative is a coordinated effort of the Maine Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) and other state agencies to improve the health of Mainers using substances through harm reduction strategies, helping them on the road to recovery, and dramatically reducing the number of fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses. Go to https://knowyouroptions.me. If you or a loved one are struggling with opiate addiction, please contact 211, where Maine residents can receive help and find information about local treatment programs.
Vermont: No matter where in Vermont you are, there are resources to help. Vermont 2-1-1(https://vermont211.org/) is available. To speak to someone about substance use resources including treatment options, call VT Helplink 802-565-LINK (toll free at 833-565-LINK) or visit online at VTHelplink.org, and Vermont Alcohol and Abuse Programs (802-651-1550). All information and referral services are free and confidential.
For individuals seeking help in other states, please call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP(4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations.
###
22-