District of New Hampshire
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Nashua Man Sentenced to Prison for Possession of a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
CONCORD, - Illya Scott, 30, of Nashua, was sentenced on Tuesday to 12 months and a day in federal prison for possession of a stolen firearm, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 6, 2018, Scott was arrested in Nashua, New Hampshire. During a search incident to arrest, Nashua police officers found a Berretta, BU PICO, .380 handgun tucked into the defendant's waistband. Scott admitted to stealing the firearm.
Scott previously pleaded guilty on July 22, 2019.
“Thefts of firearms and trading in stolen firearms undermine public safety by providing criminals with a means by which violent crimes can be committed,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect the Granite State from violent crime, we will continue to be aggressive in our efforts to prosecute those who possess stolen firearms.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Six Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Guillermo Garcia Esquivel, 36, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to armed robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Esquivel committed six armed robberies of convenience stores in Manchester between January 5, 2019 and February 24, 2019. During each of the robberies, Esquivel pointed what appeared to be a black handgun at the victim cashier and demanded money. Esquivel stole in excess of $5,000.
Esquivel is scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2019.
“Violent crimes jeopardize the safety of victims, the public, and the entire community,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This defendant’s crime spree involved pointing a weapon at cashiers at several different convenience stores in Manchester. This type of conduct cannot be tolerated. We will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who use or threaten to use a gun to commit a violent crime.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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.
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Fitchburg Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Mallory Nooks, 31, of Fitchburg, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession and distribution of cocaine, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 14, 2018, Nooks possessed 14 baggies of crack cocaine that she intended to distribute, after she had already distributed crack cocaine to another individual. She also possessed a Ruger LCR 38 Special, .38 caliber pistol, loaded with five rounds of ammunition in her purse.
Nooks is scheduled to be sentenced on February 25, 2019.
“Drug traffickers endanger the lives and safety of their customers as well as the general public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The threat is compounded when the drug dealer is armed with a firearm. In order to maintain the safety of our citizens, we will not hesitate to pursue federal charges against drug dealers who possess or use firearms.”
"Every day, law enforcement sees the lives destroyed and families torn apart by the worst drug crisis in our country's history. All Mallory Nooks saw was a chance to make a buck," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "The FBI has said more often than we'd like that drugs threaten fatal consequences for all who cross their path. It is a good day for law enforcement when one less armed trafficker is free to capitalize on our communities.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana Konesky and Anna Krasinski.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Dorchester, Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Transportation of a Minor for the Purpose of Sexual ActivityRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Dagoberto Duarte, 22, of Dorchester, Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to transportation of a minor for the purpose of sexual activity, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 10, 2018, the Londonderry Police Department was informed that a 13-year-old female was missing. Officers responded to her residence to investigate. During the investigation, the Londonderry officers were told that the minor female had been communicating with a man online and that they had made plans to meet.
The mother of the minor female received a call from Duarte telling her that he had taken her daughter to Boston. A law enforcement officer spoke with Duarte who said the minor female had been dropped off at a bus station. Boston police officers were notified and officers were able to locate the minor female.
On July 3, 2018, Duarte was arrested by police officers in Boston. Duarte later admitted that he had picked up the minor female in New Hampshire and driven her to Massachusetts, where they engaged in sexual activity.
Duarte is scheduled to be sentenced on February 26, 2020. A native of Honduras, Duarte faces likely removal from the United States as a result of this conviction.
“The internet has made it possible for predators to target children in their own homes,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Protecting young people against this type of victimization is a top priority for law enforcement. When predators seek to take advantage of innocent children, we will not hesitate to bring federal charges against them. I commend the work of the law enforcement officers in this case for their quick response to this situation and their efforts to bring this predator to justice.”
“It is incomprehensible that anyone would seek to take advantage of a child’s vulnerability like Duarte has done in this case,” said Jason J. Molina, acting special agent in charge for HSI Boston. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are committed to arresting anyone who preys on the innocence of a child and those predators will face justice for their abhorrent criminal acts.”
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the Londonderry Police Department, and the Boston Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana Konesky.
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.
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Man Found Guilty of Mailing Threatening Letters to New Hampshire Residents from PrisonRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Matthew Oliver, 38, formerly of Everett, Massachusetts, was found guilty of two counts of mailing threatening communications, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made during a jury trial yesterday, Oliver mailed the threatening communications while incarcerated at the Onondaga County Justice Center in Syracuse, New York in 2017. In January of 2017, Oliver mailed a letter to a home in New Hampshire that contained a threat to injure the woman who lived in the home. While still incarcerated at the facility in April of 2017, the defendant mailed another letter to the home that contained a threat to assault the woman’s daughter.
Oliver is scheduled to be sentenced on February 27, 2020.
“The verdicts in this case are supported by evidence of horrible threats of violence the defendant directed to two innocent women,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This type of activity must be deterred and I am grateful to the law enforcement agencies who investigated this case for their diligent efforts to bring the defendant to justice. We take threats of violence very seriously and will not hesitate to prosecute those who use threats of violence to frighten citizens of the Granite State.”
"There are healthy, lawful avenues for coping with grudges, bitterness and misplaced blame. Terrorizing an innocent family with unsolicited mail espousing the occult, while threatening unspeakable acts of violent retribution, is not one of them," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Threatening letters, whether mailed from prison or a neighborhood post office, will be met with a coordinated response that will ensure people like Matthew Oliver are held accountable for their hateful words."
The Seabrook New Hampshire Police Department, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
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Hampton Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jacqueline Masse, 49, of Hampton, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to participating in a mail fraud scheme, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in letters mailed to restaurants and food companies Masse falsely claimed that she (or another member of her family) became seriously ill after eating food served by the restaurants or packaged by the food companies. In other letters also mailed to restaurants and food companies, Masse assumed the identity of other members of her family and falsely claimed that the family member became seriously ill after eating food served by the restaurants or packaged by the food companies.
In each of the 12 letters, Masse falsely claimed that the letter’s writer had paid or borrowed money to pay hospital bills and other medical expenses incurred to treat an illness because they did not have personal health insurance. Each letter included a demand that the affected restaurant or food company reimburse the writer for medical expenses and provide financial compensation for pain and suffering.
According to the court documents and statements made in court, to support each demand letter, Masse provided fraudulent medical records allegedly obtained from hospitals in New Hampshire and Massachusetts as false evidence of the fictitious illnesses. She used fraudulent bank account and credit card statements as false evidence that the writer had dined at the affected restaurant or bought food packaged by the affected food company. Masse also used fraudulent invoices from hospitals and an ambulance company as false evidence of medical expenses.
In correspondence with the insurance carriers, Masse demanded payments totaling more than $399,000. Some of the insurance companies responded by mailing insurance settlement checks totaling more than $206,000 to Masse’s home in Hampton and homes associated with her family members (who were unwitting participants in the scheme to defraud).
Masse is scheduled to be sentenced on February 28, 2020.
“Insurance fraud has a serious impact on hard-working individuals and families, as it drives up their insurance premiums and makes it more difficult to collect on legitimate claims,” said U.S Attorney Murray. “The conduct in this case was carefully planned and persistent. It involved the attempted theft of almost $400,000, the use of bogus documents, and Masse’s use of personal identifying information that belonged to innocent members of her family. I want to commend the New Hampshire Insurance Department for its exceptional work on this case and its overall tenacious effort to investigate and prosecute insurance fraud in all of its forms.”
“I’m very proud of the hard work and dedication of my Fraud Unit,” said John Elias, the New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner. “This fraud scheme caused harm to private consumers, businesses, and insurance carriers. One of our highest priorities is to protect these entities, and we are thankful to the United States Attorney’s Office and the FBI for partnering with us to combat fraud.”
"Cleanliness and accountability are the bedrock on which restaurants and food providers stake their reputations. Jacqueline Masse attempted to enrich herself by exploiting that fact and using smear tactics to persuade the victims' insurance companies to settle her bogus claims," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "The FBI thanks the New Hampshire Insurance Department for its exceptional investigative work, which helped expose her fraud and the truth."
The New Hampshire Insurance Department investigated this case with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
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Farmington Man Sentenced to 46 Months for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Randy Stevens, 29, of Farmington, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 30, 2018, an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement officers advised that Stevens planned to travel from Rochester, New Hampshire to the Lawrence, Massachusetts area in a pickup truck to purchase a large quantity of fentanyl. Later the same day, law enforcement officers observed the truck travel from Rochester to a liquor store in Lawrence. After the vehicle returned to New Hampshire, it was stopped by the New Hampshire State Police for a traffic violation. Stevens was a passenger in the vehicle. After a narcotics detection dog alerted to the presence of narcotics in the truck, 269.3 grams of fentanyl were recovered.
On the evening of June 2, 2018, a Kingston, New Hampshire police officer conducted a traffic stop of a motorcycle that Stevens was operating on Route 125. Stevens provided the officer with a false name and the officer later recovered 42 grams of fentanyl from the motorcycle.
Stevens previously pleaded guilty on August 2, 2019.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking has produced devastating consequences for the people of New Hampshire.” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to stop this deadly trade and protect our citizens, we will seek the prosecution and incarceration of responsible parties. Mr. Stevens’ prison sentence should serve as a warning to drug dealers who are inclined to engage in similar conduct.”
“Fentanyl distribution is destroying people’s lives and wreaking havoc in our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “DEA and our law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue and bring to justice any individual or organization that distributes this poison.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Hampshire State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
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Dover Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Alfonz Vei, 45, of Dover, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in September of, 2018, an undercover law enforcement officer (UC) purchased methamphetamine from Kristen Hodgkins. On October 9, 2018, in Dover, Vei and Hodgkins distributed 43.6 grams of methamphetamine to a UC. Agents observed Vei weighing out the methamphetamine on a scale just before Hodgkins took the drugs and delivered them to the UC.
On January 11, 2019, postal inspectors intercepted a package from a fictitious address and addressed to a residence in Dover, where Vei had a prior affiliation. Investigators observed Vei arrive at the address at approximately the time the package was due to be delivered. The package was searched pursuant to a warrant and was determined to contain 444.4 grams of methamphetamine.
On January 16, 2019, Vei was stopped driving a car in Exeter. He had an unloaded Glock 9 mm firearm in the vehicle, as well as approximately one ounce of methamphetamine and 115 ecstasy pills.
Hodgkins was sentenced to 84 months on September 25, 2019. Vei previously pleaded guilty on July 30, 2019.
“Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that presents a growing threat to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Even as we combat the opioid crisis, we remain committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who endanger our community by distributing methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs.”
“As methamphetamine seizures by law enforcement are on the rise DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of the Granite State,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police and the Rochester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 50 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Nestor Santiago Torres, 33, of Manchester, was sentenced in federal court on Tuesday to 50 months in prison for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on the evening of January 31, 2018, a New Hampshire State Trooper made a traffic stop of a Ford Expedition on Interstate 93 in Salem. The defendant was a passenger in the vehicle. During a consensual search of the vehicle, a Trooper located a clear plastic package beneath the front passenger’s seat that contained approximately 373.8 grams of fentanyl. Multiple sandwich bags and a digital scale also were recovered from the motor vehicle. During a later interview, Torres admitted that the drugs belonged to him and that he had been engaged in the distribution of drugs.
Torres previously pleaded guilty on March 22, 2019.
“For drug dealers, the cost of selling fentanyl in New Hampshire is a federal prison term,”said U.S. Attorney Scott Murray. “Those who choose to engage in this business should expect to be investigated, identified, prosecuted, and incarcerated. We will continue to work with New Hampshire State Police, HSI, and all of our law enforcement partners to end this lethal trade.”
“This man has been convicted of distributing a highly addictive and destructive drug. Too many lives have been lost to this opioid epidemic and law enforcement is not taking it lightly,” said Jason J. Molina, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Boston. “Torres will now have plenty of time behind bars to contemplate his actions and there is one less dealer on the streets of New Hampshire.”
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.
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Attorney General Announces Launch of Project Guardian – A Nationwide Strategic Plan to Reduce Gun ViolenceRead the Press Release
Today, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Project Guardian, a new initiative designed to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws across the country. Specifically, Project Guardian focuses on investigating, prosecuting, and preventing gun crimes.
Reducing gun violence and enforcing federal firearms laws have always been among the Department’s highest priorities. In order to develop a new and robust effort to promote and ensure public safety, the Department reviewed and adapted some of the successes of past strategies to curb gun violence. Project Guardian draws on the Department’s earlier achievements, such as the “Triggerlock” program, and it serves as a complementary effort to the success of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). In addition, the initiative emphasizes the importance of using all modern technologies available to law enforcement to promote gun crime intelligence.
“Gun crime remains a pervasive problem in too many communities across America. Today, the Department of Justice is redoubling its commitment to tackling this issue through the launch of Project Guardian,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “Building on the success of past programs like Triggerlock, Project Guardian will strengthen our efforts to reduce gun violence by allowing the federal government and our state and local partners to better target offenders who use guns in crimes and those who try to buy guns illegally.”
“In New Hampshire, gun violence is linked to the trade in opioids and other illegal drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Murray. “It is essential that we utilize all law enforcement resources to curtail the ability of drug dealers to acquire firearms through illegal means. These include straw purchases, lying on federal firearms forms, and possession by convicted felons and others who are disqualified from gun ownership under federal law. Through Project Guardian, we will work to strengthen law enforcement partnerships that can have a major impact on gun crime and reduce the availability of firearms for drug dealers and other criminals.”
“ATF has a long history of strong partnerships in the law enforcement community,” said Acting Director Regina Lombardo. “Make no mistake, the women and men of ATF remain steadfast to our core mission of getting crime guns off of our streets. ATF and U.S. Attorneys nationwide will leverage these partnerships even further through enhanced community outreach initiatives and coordination with local, state, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to cut the pipeline of crime guns from those violent individuals who seek to terrorize our communities. Project Guardian will enhance ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence, to include identifying, investigating and prosecuting those involved in the straw purchases of firearms, lying on federal firearms transaction forms, and those subject to the mental health prohibition of possessing firearms.”
Project Guardian’s implementation is based on five principles:
- Coordinated Prosecution. Federal prosecutors and law enforcement will coordinate with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and prosecutors to consider potential federal prosecution for new cases involving a defendant who: a) was arrested in possession of a firearm; b) is believed to have used a firearm in committing a crime of violence or drug trafficking crime prosecutable in federal court; or c) is suspected of actively committing violent crime(s) in the community on behalf of a criminal organization.
- Enforcing the Background Check System. United States Attorneys, in consultation with the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in their district, will create new, or review existing, guidelines for intake and prosecution of federal cases involving false statements (including lie-and-try, lie-and-buy, and straw purchasers) made during the acquisition or attempted acquisition of firearms from Federal Firearms Licensees.
Particular emphasis is placed on individuals convicted of violent felonies or misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence, individuals subject to protective orders, and individuals who are fugitives where the underlying offense is a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; individuals suspected of involvement in criminal organizations or of providing firearms to criminal organizations; and individuals involved in repeat denials. - Improved Information Sharing. On a regular basis, and as often as practicable given current technical limitations, ATF will provide to state law enforcement fusion centers a report listing individuals for whom the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) has issued denials, including the basis for the denial, so that state and local law enforcement can take appropriate steps under their laws.
- Coordinated Response to Mental Health Denials. Each United States Attorney will ensure that whenever there is federal case information regarding individuals who are prohibited from possessing a firearm under the mental health prohibition, such information continues to be entered timely and accurately into the United States Attorneys’ Offices’ case-management system for prompt submission to NICS. ATF should engage in additional outreach to state and local law enforcement on how to use this denial information to better assure public safety.
Additionally, United States Attorneys will consult with relevant district stakeholders to assess feasibility of adopting disruption of early engagement programs to address mental-health-prohibited individuals who attempt to acquire a firearm. United States Attorneys should consider, when appropriate, recommending court-ordered mental health treatment for any sentences issued to individuals prohibited based on mental health. - Crime Gun Intelligence Coordination. Federal, state, local, and tribal prosecutors and law enforcement will work together to ensure effective use of the ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers (CGICs), and all related resources, to maximize the use of modern intelligence tools and technology. These tools can greatly enhance the speed and effectiveness in identifying trigger-pullers and finding their guns, but the success depends in large part on state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners sharing ballistic evidence and firearm recovery data with the ATF.
Federal law enforcement represents only about 15% of all law enforcement resources nationwide. Therefore, partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the communities they serve are critical to addressing gun crime. The Department recognizes that sharing information with our state, local, and tribal law enforcement partners at every level will enhance public safety, and provide a greater depth of resources available to address gun crime on a national level.
For more information on Project Guardian, see the Attorney General’s memorandum at: https://www.justice.gov/ag/project-guardian-memo-2019/download.
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Concord Man Sentenced to 80 Months for Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Bernard Lindsay, 41, of Concord, was sentenced yesterday to 80 months in federal prison for possession of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to trial exhibits and witness testimony during the two-day jury trial, on April 16, 2018, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, Office of Probation and Parole, conducted a home visit at the defendant’s residence in Concord, New Hampshire. In the defendant’s home, officers found a plastic case containing over 16 grams of methamphetamine, over 23 grams of fentanyl, and over 34 grams of cocaine. From the defendant’s person, officers recovered a large amount of money. In addition, officers recovered drug paraphernalia and other evidence of drug distribution, including a known cutting agent, throughout the residence. The Concord Police Department responded to the parole officers’ request for assistance, and continued the investigation by obtaining search warrants for the defendant’s home, car and cellular phones. At trial, the government introduced evidence of the defendant’s ongoing drug trafficking activities recovered from his cell phones. The jury returned guilty verdicts on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
“Drug dealers should understand that they face long federal prison terms if they continue to do business in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Drug trafficking has caused severe damage in communities throughout our state. In order to stop this destructive activity, we are committed to working closely with the Concord Police Department, DEA, NHDOC and all of our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who traffic in illegal drugs.”
“DEA is committed to bring to justice those that distribute cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Lindsay accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning that DEA and its local, state and federal partners will do everything in our power to keep these highly addictive drugs off the streets of New Hampshire.”
“This case demonstrates an ongoing collaborative team effort by law enforcement partners at the local, state, and federal level to remove a dangerous drug dealer from our community,” said Lieutenant Sean Ford on behalf of Concord Police Department. “Mr. Lindsey’s arrest and prosecution is a big step forward in making our communities safer and holding those that deal dangerous drugs accountable.”
This matter was investigated by the Concord Police Department and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, Office of Probation and Parole, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cam T. Le and Georgiana L. Konesky.
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Lawrence Man Sentenced to 52 Months for Participating in a Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Geudin Nivar Baez, a/k/a/ Jhonatan Mateo, 31, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced yesterday to 52 months in federal prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements make in court, in May of 2018, Nivar Baez’s co-defendant Santo Benito Lara participated in a conspiracy to sell fentanyl to a customer in Salem, New Hampshire. After the DEA received information about the conspiracy, it began an investigation into Lara’s activities. Between May and September of 2018, Nivar Baez and Lara sold fentanyl in Lawrence to a cooperating individual on multiple occasions.
Lara was found guilty by a jury on May 10, 2019 and is awaiting sentencing. Nivar Baez previously pleaded guilty on May 15, 2019.
Nivar faces possible removal to the Dominican Republic after the completion of his prison sentence.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking is damaging communities in New Hampshire every day,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect the health and safety of our citizens, we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who are selling illegal drugs in the Granite State. This prison sentence demonstrates the severe consequences for drug dealers who choose to introduce lethal fentanyl into our state.”
“Opioid abuse are at epidemic levels in New Hampshire and across New England,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “DEA is committed to aggressively pursue Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals like Mr. Navar Baez who are coming from out of state to distribute fentanyl, in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police and the Essex County (MA) Sheriff’s Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Dronzek and Jarad Hodes.
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New York Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Edwin Martinez-Guzman, 37, of New York, was sentenced in federal court to 120 months in prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, after law enforcement officers learned that Martinez-Guzman was preparing to conduct a drug transaction, they approached him in a parking lot in Manchester on November 28, 2018. Martinez-Guzman was arrested with over 150 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Martinez-Guzman previously pleaded guilty on June 12, 2019.
“Interstate drug traffickers have caused tremendous damage to the quality of life in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to ensure the safety of our citizens, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who bring dangerous drugs into the Granite State. Drug dealers should understand that if they sell methamphetamine in New Hampshire, they will find themselves in federal prison.”
“Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Martinez-Guzman accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are coming from out of state to distribute methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “DEA and its local, state and federal law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to keep this highly addictive drug out of the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD- Brian Boucher, 41, of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court on November 1, 2019, to distributing fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on four separate occasions in February and March, 2019, Mr. Boucher sold fentanyl to an individual who was cooperating with Nashua Police detectives. He was arrested on March 8, 2019.
Boucher is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2020.
“The distribution of fentanyl continues to be a menace to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to address this threat, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are distributing this deadly drug in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Poughkeepsie Man Sentenced to 144 Months for Robbing Hinsdale Credit UnionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Joseph M. Crocco, 42, of Poughkeepsie, New York, was sentenced to 144 months in prison and ordered to pay $2709 in restitution for robbing a credit union.
Evidence presented at trial showed that on December 21, 2017, the defendant entered the Service Credit Union branch located in the Walmart on Brattleboro Road in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. He approached a teller and gave her two notes. He then told her that he had a bomb strapped to his body and she had 60 seconds to comply with his demands. The teller gave him approximately $2,700 and he fled the store. Investigation by the New Hampshire State Police and the Hinsdale Police Department ultimately traced the defendant to Poughkeepsie where detectives from the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department identified the defendant in images taken from the credit union’s security cameras.
Crocco was found guilty by a jury on September 25, 2018.
“Robberies of banks and credit unions are violent crimes that can jeopardize the safety of employees, customers, and the public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect the safety of our citizens, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to prosecute and incarcerate those who commit violent crimes in the Granite State.”
"Imagine being confronted at your place of work by a stranger, who threatened that you have one minute to decide whether to live or possibly die. That was the ultimatum Joseph Crocco forced upon a credit union teller inside a popular Hinsdale superstore, when he claimed he was armed with a bomb he would detonate if she did not cooperate," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "The FBI is proud to work with our law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in bringing Crocco to justice, and who hopefully restored some peace of mind to the bank's employees."
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hinsdale Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Brattleboro, Vermont Police Department, and the City of Poughkeepsie, New York Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Dronzek and Charles Rombeau.
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Texas Man Convicted of Conspiring to File False Tax Returns Using Stolen IdentitiesRead the Press Release
CONCORD– A Grand Prairie, Texas man was found guilty today of conspiring to file false tax returns using stolen identities to fraudulently obtain tax refunds in the District of New Hampshire announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Scott W. Murray, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from 2011 through 2014, Emmanuel Akoto, also known as “Kofi,” obtained the identities of other people and used them to file false tax returns with the IRS without the knowledge or consent of the identity theft victims. These returns listed fake income and tax withholdings and sought fraudulent refunds, which Akoto and his co-conspirators had loaded on pre-paid debit cards. The conspiracy involved others in Texas, California, Georgia, and Ghana. During the course of the conspiracy, Akoto e-mailed an undercover agent from the United States Secret Service requesting to purchase identities to use in his scheme.
Akoto was convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2019, by U.S. District Judge Steven J. McAuliffe. Akoto faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on the conspiracy and wire fraud charges. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.
Akoto’s co-defendant, Jeffrey Quaye, pleaded guilty in July 2018 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 5, 2019.
“Identity theft crimes cause real harm to their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “When identity theft is coupled with tax fraud, the damage is compounded substantially. In order to seek justice for crime victims, we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit these serious crimes.”
“Mr. Akoto and his co-conspirators purchased hundreds of stolen identities online, using different email addresses to execute their scheme,” said Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Boston Field Office. “In turn, they used the identities to file false tax returns in the victims’ names, in an attempt to obtain bogus refunds. IRS will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners, to aggressively pursue cyber-criminals who undermine the integrity of the U.S. tax system.”
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Murray thanked special agents from IRS–Criminal Investigation and the Secret Service, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Arnold Huftalen and Trial Attorney Sean Green, who tried the case.
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Texas Man Convicted of Conspiring to File False Tax Returns with Stolen Identities Purchased on the InternetRead the Press Release
A Grand Prairie, Texas, resident was found guilty yesterday of conspiring to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, in connection with a scheme to file false tax returns using stolen identities, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Scott W. Murray, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from 2011 through 2014, Emmanuel Akoto, also known as “Kofi,” purchased from third parties more than 560 stolen identities of other people and used the stolen identities to file false tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These returns listed fake income and tax withholdings and sought fraudulent refunds, which Akoto and his co-conspirators loaded onto pre-paid debit cards. At one point, Akoto tried to purchase identities from a United States Secret Service undercover agent, asking through email how much it would cost to buy the “newest” identities. The wide-ranging conspiracy involved others in Texas, California, Georgia, and Ghana.
Akoto is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 29, 2020 by U.S. District Judge Steven J. McAuliffe. Akoto faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and each wire fraud offense. He also faces a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison for aggravated identity theft. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. Akoto’s co-defendant, Jeffrey Quaye, pleaded guilty in July 2018 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for his role in the scheme. Quaye is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 5, 2019.
Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Murray thanked special agents of IRS–Criminal Investigations and the Secret Service, who conducted the investigation, and Trial Attorney Sean Green, and Assistant United States Attorney Arnold Huftalen, who tried the case.
Additional information about the Tax Division and its enforcement efforts may be found on the division’s website.
Northwood Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - James Goodwin, 53, of Northwood, was sentenced on Tuesday to 70 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2018, a North Carolina undercover police officer was conducting an online investigation into individuals involved in the trading of illegal images of child pornography. Goodwin was identified after he uploaded numerous images of child sexual abuse into a chatroom which were downloaded by the undercover officer. Forensic examinations of several of Goodwin’s electronic devices revealed images depicting the sexual assaults of children.
“The law enforcement community is committed to protecting children,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Innocent children are victimized when child pornography is created. Those who trade or distribute these images exacerbate that harm and will be held accountable for their conduct.”
“By viewing and distributing these images, Goodwin re-victimized these innocent child victims who were abused in the original production of such images.” said Jason J. Molina, acting special agent in charge of HSI Boston. “Together with our federal and local partners, HSI remains dedicated to combatting the threat that depraved, online child predators like Goodwin pose. We will never waiver in our commitment to fighting for justice for the victims of those who traffic in these sickening images.”
This matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.
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.
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Florida Man Pleads Guilty to Failing to Pay Child SupportRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Richard E. Goulet, Jr., 50, of Ocala, Florida, pleaded guilty in federal court to failing to pay child support, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in December of 2007, a decree of divorce was issued in the Portsmouth Family Division Court ordering Richard Goulet of Ocala, Florida, to pay support in a specified amount for his three children, all of whom are residents of New Hampshire.
Since the date of the decree in 2007, the defendant has failed to pay child support as ordered by the Family Division and is currently in arrears of over $100,000.00
Goulet is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2020.
“When out-of-state parents fail to pay their child support obligations, it can violate federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In appropriate cases, we will not hesitate to bring federal criminal charges against those who refuse to provide court-ordered financial support to their children.”
"Parents who willfully avoid paying child support by moving to another state will instead face consequences for their crime, said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “We will continue to investigate parents who fail to pay court-ordered support for the care of their children.”
This matter was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen Fitzgibbon.
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DEA to accept electronic vaping devices and cartridges as part of National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on SaturdayRead the Press Release
BOSTON – This weekend the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will once again conduct one of its most popular community programs: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. On Saturday October 26 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. the public can dispose of their expired, unused, and unwanted prescription medications at 594 collection sites throughout New England, operated by local law enforcement agencies and other community partners. The service is free of charge, no questions asked and most of these collection sites can be found in the lobby of your local Police Department. To find a collection site near you go to: www.DEATakeBack.com
For the first time, DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop off locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium ion batteries.
Concerns have been raised across the United States over illnesses and death caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. In an effort to support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially amongst America’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances.
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. DEA launched its prescription drug take back program when both the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration advised the public that flushing these drugs down the toilet or throwing them in the trash posed potential safety and health hazards.
“Our take-back events highlight the problems associated to prescription drug abuse and gives our citizens an opportunity to contribute to the solution,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “These efforts help remove unwanted, expired and unused prescription pills that can be abused, stolen or resold which helps our continued dedication to combat the prescription pill, fentanyl and heroin epidemic of substance abuse and addiction.
“Everyone should consider participating in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day,” said New Hampshire U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. “Although medications are needed to treat illness, we have seen the tragic impact of diverting and abusing prescription drugs. This program is a simple and effective way to protect Granite State families by removing unneeded prescriptions from the home. Properly disposing of these drugs can prevent them from falling into the wrong hands.”
Last April, during its 17th Take Back Day, the DEA New England Field Division participated in the drug take back day and, over the course of four hours, 89,366.3 pounds or over 44 tons of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs we’re collected at 583 collection sites throughout New England.
The following was the breakdown of collected weights for the six New England states:
CT – 8,361.80
MA – 28,117.50
ME – 27,680
NH – 14,180
RI – 4,465
VT – 6,562
Total- 89,366.3
For more information about the harms of youth vaping, please visit: https://www.justthinktwice.gov/facts/vaping-what-you-should-know.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Traveling to New Hampshire to Engage in Illicit Sexual ConductRead the Press Release
CONCORD- Jean Fouad Yazbek, 63, of Norwood, Massachusetts, was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 24 months in prison for traveling to New Hampshire with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in October 2018, members of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force conducted an undercover investigation targeting online sexual offenders. As part of this investigation, a detective created an undercover online persona of a 15-year-old girl (“UC”) residing in Nashua, New Hampshire. Various individuals, including Yazbek, began messaging the UC on social media soon after the account was registered. Beginning on October 2, 2018, and continuing through October 8, 2018, Yazbek engaged in sexually-charged conversations over social media with the UC. In their conversations, Yazbek discussed his desire to engage in various sex acts, including sexual intercourse, with the UC whom he believed was a 15-year-old girl.
On October 8, 2018, Yazbek drove from Massachusetts to Nashua, New Hampshire, to meet the UC and engage in illicit sexual conduct at a local hotel. When Yazbek arrived, he encountered law enforcement officers instead and was placed under arrest. Yazbek admitted that he had planned to meet a 15-year-old girl whom he had met online. He further admitted that he intended to engage in illicit sexual conduct, including sexual intercourse, with the girl. According to Yazbek, he had checked into a local hotel prior to his arrest, and his hotel room contained a brand new phone, a teddy bear, undergarments, and a backpack containing shaving equipment, lubricant, and condoms. Yazbek gave written consent to search his hotel room. Officers later searched his hotel room and found the items described by Yazbek during his interview.
Yazbek previously pleaded guilty on May 14, 2019.
“Protecting the well-being of our children is a high priority of the law enforcement community,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “It is disturbing that criminals are lurking online and seeking to prey upon children in the Granite State. Thankfully, this defendant’s efforts to victimize a young girl were thwarted by excellent law enforcement work. Predators who use the internet should be aware that law enforcement officers will be alert and watching. We will not hesitate to bring federal charges against those who threaten the safety of children in New Hampshire.”
“Yazbek thought he was traveling across state lines to have sex with a 15 year old, but his fantasy came to an abrupt end when he found himself in handcuffs” said Jason J. Molina, acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Boston. “Today’s sentencing should send a strong message to those who seek to sexually exploit children – state lines will not impede the efforts of the law enforcement community in safeguarding our children and bringing predators to face justice.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam Le.
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.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Cocaine Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Mark Manapsal, 35, of Manchester, was sentenced in federal court to 70 months in prison for distribution of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 17, 2016, and November 2, 2016, Manapsal sold cocaine to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement officers. On November 29, 2016, Manapsal, a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing guns, sold a semi-automatic rifle to the cooperating individual for $900. On March 22, 2017, Manapsal was found in possession of 497 grams of cocaine when his vehicle was stopped by the New Hampshire State Police in Nashua.
Manapsal previously pleaded guilty on July 11, 2019.
“Armed drug traffickers present a serious threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect our community, law enforcement agencies in New Hampshire are working together to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate drug dealers. Drug dealers who increase the risk to the public by using firearms should expect to find themselves in federal prison.”
"The FBI is all too familiar with what havoc can result from a semi-automatic rifle being sold into the wrong hands. Mark Manapsal was a convicted felon and cocaine pusher when he brokered the sale of an AM-15 he told the buyer was given to him to cover a drug debt," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Drugs and guns are a dangerous mix. Today's sentence should deliver that message to Mr. Manapsal loud and clear."
“DEA is committed to bring to justice those that distribute cocaine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Manapsal accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning that DEA and its local, state and federal law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to keep this drug off the streets of New Hampshire.”
The case was investigated by the FBI, DEA, New Hampshire State Police, and the Manchester Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis prosecuted the case.
This investigation was conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 36 Months for Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Kenneth Kirkpatrick, 33, of Manchester, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday to 36 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, law enforcement officers obtained information that Kirkpatrick was selling firearms. On July 26, 2018, Kirkpatrick sold a firearm, ammunition, and firearm accessories to an individual who was cooperating with the ATF. As a convicted felon, Kirkpatrick could not lawfully possess a firearm or ammunition.
Kirkpatrick’s previously pleaded guilty on June 3, 2019.
“Federal law prohibits felons from possessing firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The law is intended to reduce violent crime by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who violate federal gun laws.”
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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.
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Concord Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing SilencerRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Isaiah Goodwin, 42, of Concord, pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing a firearm silencer that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Goodwin purchased the silencer on a website and received it at his home in Concord. The ATF seized it during a search of his residence. The silencer was not registered, as required, in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.
Goodwin is scheduled to be sentenced on January 30, 2020.
“Unregistered silencers can be used by criminals to commit violent crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will work closely with ATF to enforce federal law in order to protect the citizens of our community from potential harm."
“ATF will continue work with its federal, state and local partners to enforce federal firearm laws for the unregulated sale and possession of unregistered silencers, which in the wrong hands, pose a threat to public safety,” said Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national initiative undertaken by the U.S. Department of Justice to reduce gun crime in America through, among other things, community outreach and vigorous prosecution of firearms offenses.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking Synthetic CannabinoidsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Heath Palmer, 39, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court on October 10, 2019, to possessing a synthetic cannabinoid product containing 5F-MDMB-PICA with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to statements made in court, on April 18, 2019, Palmer was observed by police officers conducting hand-to-hand sales from a car. The Manchester Police stopped Palmer and he voluntarily turned over the product he was selling. Palmer claimed that the product did not contain illegal substances. Testing by the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed, however, that the product contained an illegal substance, 5F-MDMB-PICA.
On May 7, 2019, Palmer was informed by the Manchester Police that the substance he was selling was in fact illegal under federal law. Three days later, the Manchester Police observed Palmer continuing to make hand-to-hand sales from a car. The police stopped the car and seized the product that Palmer was selling. The product was again tested, and it contained the same illegal substance, 5F-MDMB-PICA.
Palmer is scheduled to be sentenced on January 22, 2020.
According to the DEA, synthetic cannabinoids, which commonly are referred to by names such as “Spice” or “K2,” are designer drugs that are made in laboratories. The chemicals often are sprayed onto plant substances and then smoked in order to obtain a high. These substances have severe adverse effects and have often led to overdoses. In addition to the dangers associated with the chemical substances themselves, the lack of manufacturing standards may lead to increased health risks.
The DEA issued a regulation on April 16, 2019, that made 5F-MDMB-PICA and several other synthetic cannabinoids Schedule I controlled substances. In its order, the DEA noted that this drug had been associated with over 47 overdoses in Connecticut and at least 244 overdoses in Washington, D.C. Further information is available at https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2019/fr0416.htm and https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/sites/getsmartaboutdrugs.com/files/publications/DoA_2017Ed_Updated_6.16.17.pdf#page=88.
“Synthetic cannabinoids are dangerous drugs that can cause serious bodily harm,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Because of significant damage to communities in the Granite State, we will not hesitate to bring federal charges against those who sell these dangerous substances. I am grateful to the Manchester Police and DEA for their excellent work, which got this drug trafficker off the streets.”
“There is a misconception that synthetic cannabinoids, known on the street as synthetic marijuana, K2 and spice are safe. Synthetic cannabinoids are anything but safe,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “They are a toxic cocktail of lethal chemicals created in China and then disguised as plant material here in New England. DEA and its local, state and federal partners will work diligently to keep this dangerous drug off the streets of New Hampshire.”
The case was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Seth R. Aframe.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Drug Trafficking Conspiracy ChargeRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Daniel Irving, 28, of Manchester, was sentenced in federal court to 96 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 19, 2018, law enforcement officers encountered Irving and another individual in a vehicle near a convenience store in Concord, New Hampshire. Inside the vehicle, officers found more than 70 grams of methamphetamine and two firearms. In addition, drug paraphernalia, including a glass mirror, digital scale, a ledger, syringes and plastic baggies were confiscated.
Irving previously pleaded guilty on July 1, 2019.
“Armed drug dealers are a menace to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “As Mr. Irving has learned, those who possess firearms while trafficking in illegal drugs should expect to serve substantial prison terms. In order to protect the public, we will continue to seek long prison sentences for drug dealers who arm themselves with firearms.”
"The high-risk road Daniel Irving chose to follow had no shortage of warning signs for what lie ahead: Addiction and petty crimes escalated to his being caught in a car with two firearms and peddling methamphetamine - a dangerous drug he claims to have been a victim of himself," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Today's sentencing is that rare second chance for Mr. Irving to find a new direction. Because rest assured, we and our law enforcement partners will hold the course in our pursuit of illegal drug traffickers inflicting pain and suffering on our communities."
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Concord Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.
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Hooksett Man Sentenced to Probation and Order to Pay Restitution for Embezzling Labor Union AssetsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Dennis Robertson, 43, of Hooksett, was sentenced on Thursday in federal court to 3 years of probation and ordered to pay more than $37,000 in restitution for embezzling labor union assets, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Robertson served as the business manager for a local union based in New Hampshire for approximately 14 years until his dismissal in or around March 2017. He was the only full-time paid officer or employee of the local union, which had approximately 140 to 170 dues-paying members. Robertson’s duties included managing finances, receiving dues, dispatching workers, and handling grievances.
Robertson had access to the organization’s bank accounts. After Robertson left the union in approximately March of 2017, an audit revealed substantial financial discrepancies under Robertson’s tenure. In sum, this review revealed that between August 2015 and February 2017, Robertson wrote and signed unauthorized expense checks to himself and made unauthorized cash withdrawals from the union’s checking account in the approximate amount of $23,519. He additionally embezzled union funds in two other ways: (1) by making unsupported mileage payments to himself of approximately $11,333 and (2) failing to disclose cash dues payments he received from members in the amount of approximately $3,045. When approached by investigators, Robertson admitted to taking the funds in order to fund his addiction to crack cocaine and other narcotics. The Court’s sentence includes restitution to make the local union and its insurer whole for their losses.
Robertson previously pleaded guilty on June 25, 2019.
“Union members put their trust in Mr. Robertson and he betrayed that trust,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The defendant improperly appropriated union funds for his personal use. As a result of his self-serving actions, he is now a federal felon.”
“Combatting financial fraud and investigating embezzlement of union funds help safeguard financial integrity in labor unions,” said DOL-OLMS Northeastern Regional Director Andriana Vamvakas. “This is a major priority for the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards. We will work with the United States Attorney’s Office to identify criminal violations and pursue appropriate legal action whenever anyone puts personal financial gain ahead of the best interests of union members.”
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor Management Standards. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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Federal Agent Pleads Guilty to Embezzlement and Conversion of Government PropertyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Shawn Meehan, 47, of Scarborough, Maine, pleaded guilty in federal court in Portland, Maine, on Tuesday to embezzlement and conversion of government property, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from about April 2015 to about October 2018, when Meehan was employed as the Resident Agent in Charge of the Homeland Security Investigations office in Portland, Maine, he sold government property on eBay for his personal profit.
According to the plea agreement filed in the case, Meehan acknowledged that the loss to the government was between $6,500 and $15,000 and that he abused a position of public trust in a way that significantly facilitated the commission and concealment of the offense. A sentencing date has not yet been set by the Court.
This matter was investigated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Office of Professional Responsibility and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold Huftalen of the District of New Hampshire, appointed as a Special Attorney to the U.S. Attorney General to handle this case in the District of Maine.
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Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Operating Major Fentanyl Trafficking OrganizationRead the Press Release
Concord – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Sergio Martinez, 29, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to leading a continuing criminal enterprise and participating in a money laundering conspiracy based upon his role in operating a Lawrence-based fentanyl trafficking organization. The plea agreement, if accepted by the judge at sentencing, would require Martinez to serve a 45-year prison sentence and forfeit $2,000,000 in cash, as well as three houses in Lawrence.
The guilty plea came on the sixth day of a jury trial. During the trial, which began on October 1, 2019, the government presented evidence that Martinez operated a fentanyl trafficking operation that employed numerous individuals to sell fentanyl to customers from various New England states, including New Hampshire. Testimony at trial showed that customers knew the Martinez organization by the name “Brian” and that most of the organization’s customers came from New Hampshire. Distributors knew to identify customers on the streets of Lawrence by their New Hampshire license plates.
Testimony at trial showed that the organization served three distinct sets of customers. The first group of customers, who ordered the smallest amounts of drugs, was served by various telephones (“small phones”) that were located in a specific residence and answered by dispatchers. This residence was referred to as “the base” and dispatchers staffed “the base” from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Dispatchers took orders and directed customers to meet various distributors throughout the Merrimack Valley area, mostly in Lawrence or Haverhill, Massachusetts, but sometimes in Salem, New Hampshire. These phones usually received hundreds of calls daily from customers placing fentanyl orders. Street-level distributors were provided with 200-gram bags of fentanyl, which they sold for $30 per gram, generating $6,000 per bag of fentanyl sold. Distributors testified at trial that they sometimes had lines of 10 to 15 customers, most with New Hampshire license plates, waiting for them on the street.
A second set of customers was serviced by the so-called “big phone.” The big phone was reserved for customers who typically purchased from ten grams to 200 grams of fentanyl at a time, quantities which the purchasers would then distribute themselves. The defendant and his brother Raulin Martinez answered this telephone, took orders, and sent these customers to meet a different set of distributors. They promised these customers better and faster service than they received if they called the small phones. These phones received between approximately 50 and 100 calls daily.
A third, much smaller set of customers, who ordered particularly large quantities of fentanyl (usually one kilogram or more at a time) called the defendant directly to place orders. The organization would deliver directly to these individuals by sending a distributor, often in a taxi, to deliver to these customers at or near their residences.
Trial testimony showed that Martinez managed numerous individuals including between five and ten runners working each day, people who staffed “the base” answering telephones, and people who mixed and packaged the drugs in milling operations he operated at different locations in Lawrence. The jury was provided with evidence showing that investigators seized over 12 kilograms of fentanyl from the Martinez organization during the investigation. During one telephone call intercepted over a court-authorized wiretap and played at trial, Martinez spoke to a man who identified himself as a fentanyl supplier located in Sinaloa, Mexico. Martinez told him, “what I look for is quality for when I prepare it and give it to people. Because I’m one of those people that’s moving a lot here. I move between 15, to 30, to 35 kilos a month.” In other intercepted telephone calls played at trial, Martinez acknowledged the dangerous nature of the drug he distributed, noting that “what we give out is poison.”
Evidence at trial showed that Martinez received substantial income from his business and that he sent some of this money to the Dominican Republic. Drug runners testified that they provided the defendant with between $30,000 and $35,000 per day based on aggregate drug sales. On one occasion, the defendant was stopped by the police while transporting $400,494 in cash that he intended to send to the Dominican Republic. This money was seized by the DEA.
The plea agreement includes a forfeiture of $2,000,000 including funds in two bank accounts in the Dominican Republic in Martinez’s name.
Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2020.
A total of 34 individuals were charged with participating in this conspiracy. Martinez is the last of various co-conspirators to plead guilty. The following individuals previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing:
- Miguel Alvarez, 38, of Haverhill, MA, pled guilty on January 31, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2019;
- Eduard Amparo, 47, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on August 29, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for December 16 2019;
- Edward Brailey Delacruz, 25, of Methuen, MA, pled guilty on June 24, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2019;
- Edward Brito, 32, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on July 10, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for November 4, 2019;
- Julio Colon, 25, of Lawrence, MA pled guilty on September 30, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for January 28, 2020.
- Luz DeJesus, 34, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on January 31, 2019. Her sentencing is scheduled for November 15, 2019;
- Juan Dimel Gil Castillo, 25, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on February 6, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for November 27, 2019;
- Ramon Gil Huma, 26, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on March 11, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for November 12, 2019;
- Steven Lessard, 31, of Lowell, MA pled guilty on September 30, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for January 28, 2020;
- Henry Marte, 22, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on January 25, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for November 4, 2019;
- Raulin Martinez, 37, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on December 7, 2018. His sentencing is scheduled for November 29, 2019;
- Fernand Miranda, 24, of Haverhill, MA, pled guilty on September 16, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for January 2, 2020.
- Jared Ortega-Peguero, 26, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on December 6, 2018. His sentencing is scheduled for December 19, 2019;
- Suhey Perez, 40, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on May 2, 2019. Her sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2019;
- Luz Perez DeMartinez, 27, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on February 12, 2019. Her sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2019;
- Wagner Pimentel, 29, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on March 15, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for November 19, 2019;
- Luis Angel Polanco Huma, 23, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on August 14, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for November 27, 2019.
- Jorge Rodriguez, 22, of Methuen, MA, pled guilty on February 28, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for November 15, 2019;
- Luis Antonio Salomon Polanco, 21, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on March 11, 2019. His sentencing is scheduled for November 18, 2019;
- Juan Rafael Tejada-Jimenez, 39, of Lawrence, MA, pled guilty on November 29, 2018. His sentencing is scheduled for November 22, 2019.
In addition to the defendants listed above, nine other defendants have pleaded guilty and already have been sentenced. Four defendants remain fugitives.
In addition to these defendants, 13 New Hampshire-based individuals who obtained fentanyl from this organization have been charged with drug trafficking offenses. Twelve of those individuals have pleaded guilty and one is still awaiting trial.
“The evidence in this case demonstrates that Lawrence-based fentanyl traffickers have made huge profits from pumping large quantities of deadly fentanyl into New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Mr. Martinez ran a sophisticated marketing operation that served as a conduit between the Mexican drug cartels and customers in Northern New England. This was a complex case in which the entire law enforcement community worked together to bring high-level fentanyl traffickers to justice. The end result should serve as a warning to those who choose to sell fentanyl in the Granite State.”
“DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling large scale drug trafficking organizations like this one operating in Lawrence, MA led by Mr. Martinez,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Fentanyl distribution destroys people’s lives and wreaks havoc in our communities. DEA and our law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue any individual or organization that distributes this poison.”
This investigation was conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky and Seth R. Aframe.
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Stewartstown Woman Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Oxycodone and VicodinRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Korin Gendreau, 32, of Stewartstown, pleaded guilty in federal court on Thursday to distribution of Oxycodone and Vicodin, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 19, 2018, Gendreau sold Vicodin, also known as Hydrocodone, to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement officers. On January 11, 2019, Gendreau sold Oxycodone to the same cooperating individual. Gendreau was arrested in April of 2019.
Gendreau is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2020.
“The illegal distribution of prescription painkillers has contributed to the opioid crisis in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who unlawfully sell these powerful prescription drugs.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the Colebrook Police Department, the Pittsburg Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s Division of Enforcement and Licensing, and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles L. Rombeau and John S. Davis.
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Barrington Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Thomas Whitney, 39, of Barrington, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to production of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between a date unknown and September 19, 2018, Whitney produced visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct using a cellular telephone.
Whitney is scheduled to be sentenced on January 13, 2020.
“Protection of children is a high priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Scott Murray. “We will continue to work closely with the FBI and all of our law enforcement partners to safeguard young people.”
“Mr. Whitney is finally accepting responsibility for his heinous actions—coercing a five-year-old child into sexually explicit conduct,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to do everything in its power to stop children from being exploited and bring to justice those responsible for terrorizing them.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Two Hudson Residents Plead Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Joseph Roy, 31, and Amelia Roy 30, both of Hudson, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to drug trafficking charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from November 9, 2018, until January 8, 2019, a cooperating individual, at the direction of Nashua Police Department detectives, arranged on three occasions to buy fentanyl from Joseph Roy. Amelia Roy, Mr. Roy’s sister, participated as an accomplice during one of the transactions.
Joseph and Amelia Roy are scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2020.
“Fentanyl trafficking has had devastating consequences throughout New Hampshire” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Through Operation SOS we will continue to work with the Nashua Police Department and law enforcement agencies throughout Hillsborough County to bring those responsible to justice.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Rochester Woman Sentenced to 84 Months for Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Kristen Hodgkins, 30, of Rochester, was sentenced in to serve 84 months in federal prison for participating in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning about September 4, 2018, Hodgkins sold methamphetamine to an undercover police officer on multiple occasions. On December 20, 2018, agents traveled to a store in Rochester and located Hodgkins in a vehicle driven by another woman. New Hampshire State Police stopped the vehicle and Hodgkins was arrested on outstanding arrest warrants. During a search of Hodgkins’s bags, a police officer located bags containing approximately 146.4 grams of methamphetamine.
Hodgkins previously pleaded guilty on June 19, 2019.
“Methamphetamine is a powerful drug that endangers the health and safety of the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The seven-year sentence imposed in this case should serve as a warning to those inclined to sell this substance in our state. We will continue to be aggressive in our efforts to identify, arrest, and incarcerate those who engage in this trade.”
“DEA will do everything in our power to bring to justice those who distribute methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Ms. Hodgkins accountable for her crimes but serves as a warning that DEA and its local, state and federal partners will work diligently to keep this highly addictive drug off the streets of New Hampshire.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police and the Rochester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis.
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Merrimack Man Pleads Guilty to Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Joseph Francis Brodie, Jr., 50, of Merrimack, pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to drug trafficking charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 28, 2018, a cooperating individual, at the direction of Nashua Police Department detectives, arranged to buy heroin from Brodie. On October 2, 2018, the cooperating individual contacted Brodie again and arranged to buy more heroin. Lab testing revealed that Brodie sold a combination of fentanyl and heroin to the individual.
Brodie is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2020.
“Trafficking in fentanyl and heroin has caused great damage to the health and safety of people throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is working closely with all of our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are distributing these deadly drugs.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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Lowell, Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jesus Lopez, 27, of Lowell, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to distributing a controlled substance, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between October 26, 2017 and January 31, 2018, law enforcement officers used a cooperating individual to make three separate controlled purchases of fentanyl from Lopez in Hudson, New Hampshire.
Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced on January 15, 2020.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking presents a grave risk to the health and safety of the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who distribute this deadly drug. I commend the New Hampshire State Police for their efforts in this case.”
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Lawrence Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Anthony Cabrera, 27, of Lawrence, was sentenced to 60 months for distribution of fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 12, 2019, the defendant traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire and sold approximately 49 grams of fentanyl to an undercover officer in Salem, New Hampshire.
Cabrera previously pleaded guilty on June 6, 2019.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking threatens the health and safety of people throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This conduct clearly merits the imposition of substantial prison sentences. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate, prosecute, and incarcerate those who are responsible for distributing this deadly drug.”
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions. DEA will aggressively pursue Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Gun CrimeRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Ryan Burns, 39, of Nashua, pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 4, 2018, Burns purchased a .45 caliber firearm from an undercover federal enforcement officer for $100 cash, a box of .22 caliber ammunition, and an antique firearm. As explained in court documents and stated during the hearing, Ryan’s possession of the gun was unlawful due a previous involuntary commitment to a mental health facility.
Burns will be sentenced on January 14, 2020.
“In order to maintain public safety, we are striving to prevent gun crime in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who seek to obtain guns unlawfully.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Manchester Police Department investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
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.
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Lawrence Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in a Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Nathanael Peguero, 27, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to conspiracy to distribute over 40 grams of fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between November and December of 2016, a DEA Task Force Officer (“TFO”) made arrangements with Peguero to purchase fentanyl. The undercover officer made a series of five undercover purchases of fentanyl from Peguero or members of Peguero’s drug trafficking organization.
Peguero is scheduled to be sentenced on January 14, 2020.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking endangers the health and safety of the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect our community, we will aggressively prosecute those who are responsible for distributing this deadly drug in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Hampton Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Davis.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Matthew MacLeod, 34, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Wednesday to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 7, 2018, officers from the Rochester Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by MacLeod. During a later search of the vehicle, officers found multiple drugs, including cocaine and over 40 grams of fentanyl. MacLeod possessed the drugs with the intent to sell them. Officers also seized a firearm from the vehicle.
MacLeod is scheduled to be sentenced on January 6, 2020.
“Armed drug dealers are a menace to the public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “I am grateful for the work of the Rochester Police Department and the FBI in removing this threat from our streets. Close cooperation by law enforcement is essential to addressing the opioid crisis.”
"Each and every day, the FBI and our law enforcement partners are working hard targeting armed drug dealers like Mr. MacLeod, who illegally contribute to the opioid crisis that continues to devastate communities all over the Granite state. By finally accepting responsibility for his criminal conduct, he's one step closer to being held accountable for poisoning our streets with dangerous drugs and putting residents in harm's way," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rochester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Darrius Weekly, 25, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing cocaine base, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between September 17, 2018 and November 7, 2018, law enforcement officers made five separate controlled purchases of cocaine base (also known as crack cocaine) from Weekly in and around Manchester.
Weekly is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2020.
“Crack cocaine endangers the health and safety of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We are committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to stop the distribution of this dangerous substance in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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Effingham Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Conspiracy and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Justin English, 35, of Effingham, pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and possessing firearms in furtherance of his drug trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between early 2018 and October 4, 2018, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Maine Safe Streets Gang Task Force conducted an investigation into English’s fentanyl trafficking in Effingham, New Hampshire and York, Maine. On October 4, 2018, the FBI executed a search warrant on English’s residence, arrested English and his co-conspirator, and seized approximately 200 gram so fentanyl, currency, collectible coins, and four firearms. Under the terms of the plea agreement, English agreed to forfeit to the United States $28,386 in cash and $45,738 in collectible coins. The FBI previously administratively forfeited the firearms.
Sentencing is currently scheduled for January 2, 2020.
“Fentanyl trafficking poses a significant danger to the community,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “When drug traffickers are armed, the risk to public health and safety are even higher. We are working closely with our law enforcement partners each day to identify, arrest, and prosecute the armed drug dealers who endanger the citizens of the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Southern Maine Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the York, Maine County’s Sheriff’s Office, the Effingham, New Hampshire Police Department and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Davis.
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Chester Man Sentenced for Gun CrimesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Julion Adamski Parker, a/k/a Julian Iden Lima, 27, of Chester, was sentenced to time served (approximately 16 months) and fined $1,000 for violating federal firearms laws, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 11, 2017, Chester Police Department received a call that Parker was inside the Chester General Store with a gun in plain view. Knowing that Parker previously had been convicted of impersonating a federal officer, members of the Chester Police arrested Parker for being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon.
Further investigation showed that Parker had previously purchased guns on two occasions by completing documents that falsely claimed that he had never been convicted a felony in any court. On March 30, 2017, Parker purchased a Mosin-Nagant, Model M91/30, 7.62 X 39 mm caliber rifle from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Hooksett. On June 20, 2017, he purchased an Arsenal, Model SAM7R, 7.62 X 39 mm rifle from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Londonderry.
Parker previously pleaded guilty on May 2, 2019, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of making false statements in order to acquire a firearm. After being released from custody, Parker will be on supervised release for three years. During the first six months of his release he will be subject to home confinement with electronic monitoring.
“In order to protect public safety, it is essential to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate criminals who unlawfully obtain and possess firearms.”
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chester Police Department. The United States Marshal’s Service assisted in the apprehension of Parker. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra 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.
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Lawrence Men Plead Guilty to Participating in a Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jared Gil, 25, and Yadoris Arias, 26, both of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to distribute and possess fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between February and March of 2019, Arias conspired with Gil to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. On March 25, 2019 a confidential source contacted Gil by telephone and arranged to buy $2500 of fentanyl. Gil and Arias arrived at an apartment complex in Manchester, New Hampshire where police officers arrested them. Investigators recovered over 80 grams of a mixture containing fentanyl in the air vent of their vehicle.
Gil pleaded guilty on August 1, 2019 and is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18, 2019. Arias pleaded guilty today and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 3, 2020.
“Interstate fentanyl trafficking promotes drug addiction throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The introduction of deadly drugs into our state has caused untold suffering. In order to protect the health and safety of our citizens, we will continue to be aggressive in our prosecutions of the drug dealers who bring fentanyl into the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.
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Haverhill, Ma. Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Nicholas Messina, 28, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 72 months in prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing controlled substances with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Messina was arrested at a hotel in Nashua, New Hampshire, with fentanyl, cocaine, thousands of dollars, and a loaded firearm. In a post-arrest interview, Messina admitted that he possessed the drugs for distribution.
Messina previously pleaded guilty on May 29, 2109.
“Drugs and guns are an extremely lethal combination,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “While fentanyl already has destroyed far too many lives in New Hampshire, the risk that armed drug dealers pose to the public cannot be overstated. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop interstate drug trafficking and the violence that is associated with drug dealing.”
"ATF will continue working with our local, state and federal law enforcement counterparts to vigorously combat drug traffickers and the threat they pose to our citizens by illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of their illegal drug trade" said Kelly D. Brady, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division
“Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities, so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved,” said Brian D. Boyle. “Let this sentence be a warning to those traffickers like Mr. Messina who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison, that DEA and its local, state and federal partners will do everything in our power to bring you to justice.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.
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Goffstown Man Sentenced to 96 Months for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jonathan Felch, 37, of Goffstown, was sentenced serve to 96 months in federal prison for participating in a fentanyl drug trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included court-authorized wiretaps, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Felch regularly obtained fentanyl from a source in Lawrence, Massachusetts and then sold the fentanyl in New Hampshire.
On March 14, 2018, investigators learned that Felch had ordered 20 grams of fentanyl and was traveling on Interstate 93. The New Hampshire State Police subsequently stopped a vehicle for motor vehicle violations in which Felch was a passenger. Felch later admitted that he had drugs in his possession and provided the troopers with approximately 18 grams of fentanyl.
Again, on April 6, 2018, investigators learned that Felch intended to travel from New Hampshire to Lawrence to purchase drugs. Agents conducted surveillance of Felch and observed him meet with another individual in Lawrence. Later that day, Felch returned to New Hampshire in a vehicle that was stopped in Manchester for a motor vehicle violation. Officers later located approximately 23 grams of fentanyl and a digital scale in the vehicle. Over the course of the wiretap investigation, Felch ordered more than 600 grams of fentanyl.
Felch previously pleaded guilty on May 30, 2019.
“This case once again highlights the familiar Lawrence to New Hampshire fentanyl distribution route,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The 8 year prison term should serve as a warning to those inclined to introduce this drug into the Granite State. Traffickers should realize that we will continue to seek substantial prison terms for those who engage in this conduct.”
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with an opioid crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives.”
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, Seth R. Aframe, and Debra M. Walsh.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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Dominican Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Jose Oriol Feliz Aybar, 31, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 24 months for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendant distributed quantities of fentanyl in Lawrence, Massachusetts with Leudin Arismendi Lara (also known as Rolando Sierra-Oyola). On three occasions in 2016, the defendant sold fentanyl to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement officers and who purported to be a New Hampshire-based drug trafficker.
Lara previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to serve 91 months in prison.
Aybar previously pleaded guilty on May 29, 2019. Aybar was extradited from the Dominican Republic to face the charges in this case. He faces likely deportation to the Dominican Republic after serving his sentence.
“The deadly effects of interstate fentanyl trafficking are felt each day in the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This case demonstrates that drug dealers cannot flee the United States to avoid prosecution. In order to stop the flow of this dangerous drug into New Hampshire, we will continue to pursue traffickers and seek federal prison sentences upon their conviction.”
“New Hampshire is in the midst of a devastating opioid crisis,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “The DEA will continue to use every resource available to identify those, like Mr. Aybar, who are contributing to the crisis. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Tactical Diversion Unit, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the New Hampshire State Police, the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department, the Exeter, New Hampshire Police Department, the Andover, Massachusetts Police Department, the Wilmington, Massachusetts Police Department, and the Lawrence, Massachusetts Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Seth Aframe prosecuted the case.
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Ipswich Man Sentenced to 60 Months for Unlawful Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Daniel Laterowicz, 32, of Ipswich, was sentenced in federal court to 60 months in prison for possession of stolen firearms, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 10, 2018, members of the Salisbury, Massachusetts Police Department responded to a call of a possible car break-in. Salisbury officers later notified the Seabrook Police Department of a possible suspect in the area.
A Seabrook Police officer encountered Laterowicz walking northbound on Batchelder Road at approximately 2:44 am. The officer conducted a brief investigative stop of Laterowicz, during which a stolen handgun was recovered from the defendant’s breast pocket. Investigators followed additional leads to a hotel room in Hampton, where Laterowicz had been staying. Investigators obtained a state search warrant which they executed on December 13, 2018. The search led to the recovery of three firearms, including two shotguns that previously had been reported stolen by a Seabrook resident who had discovered them missing from his parked car on the morning of November 29, 2018.
Laterowicz is a convicted felon. It is unlawful for a person with a felony conviction to possess firearms.
Laterowicz pleaded guilty on May 29, 2019.
“In order to protect our communities from violence, it is vital to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute felons who jeopardize public safety by carrying weapons.”
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Salisbury, Massachusetts Police Department, and the Seabrook and Hampton, New Hampshire Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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.
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Groveton Woman Sentenced to 87 Months for Participating in Interstate Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Katie Fysh, 33, of Groveton, was sentenced to 87 months in prison for participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included court-authorized wiretaps, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Fysh regularly obtained fentanyl from a source in Lawrence, Massachusetts and then sold that fentanyl in New Hampshire. On both March 17, 2018, and March 18, 2018, a friend of the defendant suffered non-fatal overdoses after using the fentanyl purchased from the source in Lawrence. The defendant was arrested on March 18, 2018, and found with approximately 25 grams of fentanyl on her person. She admitted that she regularly bought fentanyl in Lawrence and distributed it in New Hampshire.
Fysh previously pleaded guilty on June 12, 2019.
“Interstate fentanyl traffickers introduce a lethal drug for distribution on the streets of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In this case, the defendant followed the very familiar pattern of purchasing the drug in Lawrence and then transporting it into our state. The penalty of better than seven years in prison should serve as a deterrent to others who would choose to follow a similar path.”
“Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Those who distribute fentanyl are endangering the safety of the citizens of New Hampshire. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire.”
This investigation was conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, Seth R. Aframe and Debra M. Walsh.
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Government Contractor Sentenced to Probation and Ordered to Repay More Than $83,000Read the Press Release
CONCORD – Enco Industries, Inc., a company located in Plaistow, New Hampshire, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $83,717.85 in restitution for making false statements to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Logistics Agency, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made during a hearing earlier today, the Defense Logistics Agency (“DLA”) purchases operating supplies (“items”) for the U.S. military from government contractors through the federal supply system. The Department of Defense (“DoD”) requires that all items conform to strict military specifications identified in its contracts. Contract solicitations include the DoD’s specifications for the requested item.
An oil sorbent mat is one item the DLA acquires through the federal supply system. Because the mats are used to absorb flammable liquids, the mats are required to meet specifications requiring them to dissipate electrical charges to the ground.
According to court documents, in December of 2011, the DLA posted a solicitation to acquire approximately 96,000 units of hazardous material mats over a five-year period. The solicitation required, among other things, that the mats pass standards established in National Fire Protection Association for Static Decay and Surface Resistivity. The solicitation also required the selected government contractor to purchase mats manufactured by a company in Tipton, Pennsylvania or another company in Pennsylvania.
Enco has been an approved government contractor since 2004. On January 13, 2012, Enco’s government contracting manager submitted Enco’s bid for the contract. The bid stated that Enco would purchase the mats from the company in Tipton for $29.15 for each unit containing 100 mats during the first year of the five-year annually renewable contract. This statement was false because, at the time the bid was submitted, Enco did not intend to purchase the mats from the company in Tipton.
The court documents further allege that on June 18, 2012, the DLA awarded the contract to Enco and sent the company a purchase order that incorporated all the required specifications for the mats. From June of 2012 to October of 2013, Enco provided approximately 21,700 units to the DLA. To obtain payments, Enco’s office manager submitted claims to the DoD. Most of claims were false because only seven units contained mats that were manufactured by the company in Tipton.
In August of 2013, an independent company concluded that several of the mats it tested did not meet the contract’s requirements for static decay or surface resistivity. As a result, the DLA sent Enco a letter on October 7, 2013, that notified the company that the contract might be terminated due to non-conformance.
In an October 2013-email addressed to the DLA, Enco’s president stated that Enco bought the mats from a non-approved manufacturer because the amount charged by the company in Tipton was prohibitive. In the same email, Enco’s president stated that Enco was not able to identify the non-approved manufacturer. This statement was false because, at the time of the email, Enco was able to identify the manufacturers from whom it had purchased the mats.
While speaking with Special Agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (“NCIS”) and Defense Criminal Investigative Service (“DCIS”) on February 21, 2014, Enco’s president stated that before Enco submitted its bid on the contract, the company received price quotes from the two approved manufacturers. According to the court documents, Enco’s president also stated that Enco decided to buy the mats from the company in Tipton because its price was lower. This statement was false and misleading because when Enco submitted its bid for the contract, it intended to fulfill the contract by purchasing mats from a non-approved manufacturer.
Enco previously pleaded guilty to make a false statements to an agency of the United States government on June 3, 2019.
“Those who do business with the federal government must do so honestly,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “When companies mislead the government in the efforts to obtain government contracts, they are committing a serious federal crime. We will not hesitate to work with our law enforcement partners to root out white collar crimes in order to protect the integrity of the government contracting process.”
"Today's sentencing is the end result of a successful joint effort to protect the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) procurement process," stated Leigh-Alistair Barzey, Special Agent in Charge of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Northeast Field Office. "DCIS is committed to working with the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of New Hampshire, NCIS and AFOSI, to investigate and prosecute companies that provide false statements to the DoD in a fraudulent effort to obtain defense contracts.”
“Fraud is never a victimless crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Leo S. Lamont of the NCIS. “This case of using inferior and substandard materials damaged the readiness and safety of U.S. forces. The victims are not just our men and women in uniform, but all American taxpayers. NCIS will continue to tirelessly pursue all those who seek to take advantage of the Department of the Navy and its interests while keeping the procurement system fair and honest."
"The Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), along with its law enforcement partners, has, and always will, aggressively identify, investigate and neutralize anyone who attempts to defraud the US Government and put our nation's warfighters at risk," stated Special Agent-in-Charge Jason T. Hein, AFOSI, Office of Procurement Fraud.”
The case was investigated by the NCIS, DCIS, and the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Office of Procurement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kinsella prosecuted the case with assistance from K. Drew Ayers, Acquisition Fraud Counsel for the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command Law Office.
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Chichester Car Dealer Pleads Guilty to Financial CrimesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Michael A. Albert, 51, of Chichester, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to structuring cash deposits from his business, Mike’s Affordable Auto, LLC, for the purpose of evading bank reporting requirements, money laundering, and evading reporting requirements with respect to cash transactions in excess of $10,000, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Albert, who ran a used car business at locations in Concord and Chichester, knew that if he deposited cash in amounts more than $10,000, the bank was required to file reports of those transactions with the IRS. Albert structured cash deposits from his business in order to evade the reporting requirements imposed on the bank. Additionally, Albert accepted cash in amounts greater than $10,000 for the purchase of vehicles from a person who represented that the cash was proceeds of illegal drug trafficking. Finally, Albert failed to file required forms with the IRS identifying cash receipts in his business in excess of $10,000.
Albert is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2019. As part of his plea agreement, he has agreed to the civil forfeiture of over $400,000.
“Federal financial laws help to ensure that businesses do not engage in money laundering or facilitate other financial crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “When those who operate businesses fail to comply with their legal obligations, they face potential criminal prosecution.”
“Federal laws that regulate the reporting of currency transactions, to include vehicles purchased for cash, are in place to detect and stop illegal activities,” said Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Boston Field Office. "Individuals who engage in this type of financial fraud should know they will not go undetected. We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners to hold them accountable."
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, with assistance from Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Manchester Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold Huftalen. The civil forfeiture matter is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rabuck.
This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
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