District of New Hampshire
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Deerfield Man Pleads Guilty to Importation of A Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Ahmad Khawaja, 22, of Deerfield, pleaded guilty in federal court to importation of a controlled substance, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about May 29, 2018, Khawaja, using the internet, purchased approximately 2 pounds of MDMA (“Ecstasy”) from a supplier located in France. Postal inspectors intercepted the packages and confirmed they contained the drug MDMA. Khawaja was arrested on June 1, 2018, in Concord, New Hampshire, when he picked up the packages from a person who had agreed to receive them for him.
Khawaja is scheduled to be sentenced on August 9th 2019.
“Those who use the mails as a means of transport for illegal drugs will find themselves being prosecuted in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Shipping dangerous drugs through the mail is both risky and illegal. To protect postal employees and the general public, we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who attempt to mail illegal drugs into New Hampshire.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducts investigations and seeks prosecution of those who use the U.S. Mail to traffic illegal substances such as MDMA,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “Along with our federal law enforcement partners, we will identify and remove illegal drug shipments to keep them from making their way into our communities.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.
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Chester Man Pleads Guilty to Being A Felon in Possession of A Firearm and Making A False Statement During the Acquisition of A FirearmRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Julion Adamski Parker, a/k/a Julian Iden Lima, 27, of Chester, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm, 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 was previously convicted of Impersonation of a U.S. Officer they went to the store and arrested Parker for being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon.
On March 30, 2017, Parker purchased a Mosin-Nagant, Model M91/30, 7.62 X 39 mm caliber rifle from Riley’s Sport Shop, a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Hooksett, New Hampshire. When Parker completed the required paperwork to make the purchase, he falsely claimed that he had never been convicted in any court of a felony.
On June 20, 2017, Parker went to Granite State Guns and Survival Gear LLC, a federally licensed firearms dealer located in Londonderry, New Hampshire and purchased an Arsenal, Model SAM7R, 7.62 X 39 mm rifle. When Parker completed the required paperwork to make the purchase, he falsely claimed that he had never been convicted in any court of a felony.
Parker is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14th 2019.
“It is unlawful for convicted felons to possess guns,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to reduce violent crime and maintain public safety, we will continue to be aggressive in our efforts to identify and prosecute criminals who unlawfully possess firearms.”
“ATF is determined to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Far too many violent crimes result from people who are prohibited from having them. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue and arrest those who commit these criminal acts,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Kelly D. Brady.”
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 is being 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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University of New Hampshire Employee Sentenced to Two Years of Probation for Interstate Transportation of Stolen MoneyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Hailong Zhang, 46, of Nottingham was sentenced to serve two years of probation, with 10 months of home detention, and fined $5,500 for aiding and abetting the interstate transportation of stolen money, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zhang was a Research Project Manager at the University of New Hampshire, College of Life Sciences. Zhang was authorized to use a credit card provided by UNH to pay for expenses covered by grants that were provided to the College of Life Sciences by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (“NIH”). On 31 separate occasions from December 2013 to January 2018, Zhang used the credit card to purchase gift cards totaling more than $82,000 from Amazon.com, which he kept or used to buy merchandise for his personal benefit, including clothing, video games, and a snow blower. To conceal each such use of the credit card, Zhang submitted a fictitious receipt and a fraudulent written justification for the expense to UNH. The bogus documents caused the University System of New Hampshire to make payments on the credit card and obtain reimbursement for the unauthorized expenses from the NIH.
“Federal grant money provides vital support for programs that advance public health and the quality of life for all,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Those who steal these funds for their personal use should understand that they will face serious consequences. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect federal programs from fraud and abuse.”
“Today, Mr. Zhang is finally being held accountable for pocketing more than $80,000 in federal grant money on personal expenses when that money should have been used to advance important scientific research projects,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Taxpayers should know that the FBI will continue to work very closely with our law enforcement partners to protect federal funds from being stolen or misused.”
“Taxpayer funds at NIH support critical research that can ultimately save lives,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Zhang siphoned off these life-giving dollars and will now pay the price. We will continue to investigate all allegations of fraud, waste and abuse in HHS funded programs.”
Zhang previously pleaded guilty on December 7, 2018.
The case was investigated by the UNH Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from Nottingham Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella.
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Milton Man Sentenced on Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray today announced that
Jason L. Brewer, 36, of Milton, New Hampshire was sentenced to time served (over 15 months) for participating in a conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 12, 2016, a New Hampshire State Police trooper observed Brewer commit multiple motor vehicle violations while driving northbound on Interstate 95. The trooper executed a traffic stop of Brewer’s car near the Hampton tolls. Timothy Kondroski was a passenger in the car. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed evidence of drug possession. While the trooper questioned Brewer and Kondroski, Kondroski fled and darted across four lanes of the interstate highway toward the barriers that divided the cash tolls from the open road tolling lanes. The trooper chased Kondroski, yelling at him to stop. The trooper eventually caught up to Kondroski at the barriers, which Kondroski was attempting to climb over. During the chase, Kondroski’s sneakers fell off. When retrieving them from the roadway, the troopers found a bag containing approximately 35 grams of heroin. A second bag containing approximately one ounce of cocaine was recovered from inside one of Kondroski’s sneakers. Kondroski and Brewer both eventually admitted to buying the drugs in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Kondroski further acknowledged that he paid $2700 for the drugs and intended to sell them.
Brewer previously pleaded guilty on August 1, 2017. Co-defendant Timothy W. Kondroski, was sentenced on January 8, 2018 to 54 months in prison.
“Interstate drug trafficking continues to endanger lives throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Determined action by the state trooper prevented the drugs from reaching their intended destination and ensured that Mr. Brewer was before a judge today to face justice. Traffickers should be aware that federal prison terms await those who engage in the drug trade.”
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Morse also participated in the prosecution of this case.
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Loudon Man Sentenced to 50 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Mark T. Moore, 38, of Loudon, New Hampshire, was sentenced in federal court 50 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in late 2016, the DEA and the Postal Inspection Service investigated numerous parcels mailed from Las Vegas, Nevada, to New Hampshire suspected of containing methamphetamine. Law enforcement agents also investigated parcels of money mailed from New Hampshire to Las Vegas, and money transfers from New Hampshire to Las Vegas. Eventually, investigators identified Edward Espejo as the individual in Las Vegas who was shipping methamphetamine to buyers in New Hampshire in return for money transfers or packages of cash mailed to him via the U.S. Postal Service.
Co-Defendant Michael Bean, along with his girlfriend and co-defendant Katie-Jo Waters, joined the conspiracy in or before January 2018. Defendant Mark Moore, who already knew Espejo, joined the conspiracy soon afterwards. Within the conspiracy, Moore handled the communications (mostly by text) to and from Edward Espejo in Las Vegas and coordinated the shipments of drugs from Nevada and the wiring of payments from New Hampshire. Waters received mailed packages containing methamphetamine at her residence; Bean and Waters distributed methamphetamine to buyers in New Hampshire; and Bean and Waters wired the proceeds of drug sales to Espejo in Las Vegas to purchase additional drugs. Bean and Waters also distributed to Moore a portion of the methamphetamine they received from Espejo.
On January 16, 2018, a package was mailed from Las Vegas. The package was scheduled to be delivered on January 17, 2018. The package was addressed to Waters at an apartment on Pembroke Street in Pembroke. Postal Inspectors obtained and executed a federal search warrant for the package. The package contained 18.989 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine.
On April 9, 2018, a package was mailed from Las Vegas. The package was scheduled to be delivered on April 10, 2018. The package was addressed to co-defendant Waters at the same Pembroke Street location. This package was delivered to the Pembroke residence. On April 11, 2018, Waters was stopped by the New Hampshire State Police driving a car registered to her. Inside the car was a black bag containing four baggies containing a total of 23.011 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine.
Wal-Mart and MoneyGram records reflect that either Bean or Waters made at least 16 separate money transfers to three persons in Las Vegas, NV between January 10, 2018 and April 29, 2018, sending a total of at least $28,550 to purchase methamphetamine.
On May 2, 2018, Postal Inspectors intercepted another package from Espejo in Las Vegas. The package was addressed to another individual at the same Pembroke Street residence previously used by co-defendant Waters. Postal Inspectors obtained a federal search warrant for the package and seized what was later determined to be 441.8 grams (approximately one pound) of pure methamphetamine.
Moore previously pleaded guilty on January 17, 2019.
Espejo previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Bean was sentenced to 120 months in prison and Waters was sentenced to 72 months in prison.
“Highly pure methamphetamine is appearing in New Hampshire with greater frequency,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who are responsible for distributing this very dangerous drug in the Granite State. Drug traffickers who choose to sell methamphetamine in New Hampshire should understand that their conduct will result in substantial prison sentences.”
“This sentence reflects DEA’s strong commitment to bring to justice those that 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 off the streets of New Hampshire.”
“The sentence imposed today on Mark Moore demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our law enforcement partners, to the safety and health of the American public,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “Moore’s actions allowed this highly addictive drug to have a place in our community. We will continue to investigate and take action against those who take part in this type of behavior.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 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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Former FCI-Berlin Chaplain Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes to Smuggle Drugs into PrisonRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Joseph Buenviaje, 53, of Berlin, pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting bribes from inmates and providing contraband in prison, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in 2015 Buenviaje began working as a chaplain at the Federal Correctional Institution in Berlin, New Hampshire. Beginning April 2018 through November 2018, while working as a chaplain, Buenviaje smuggled drugs, including Suboxone, synthetic cannabinoids, and marijuana, cellular telephones, tobacco, and other contraband into the prison in exchange for bribe payments. When interviewed by investigators in November 2018, Buenviaje admitted that he had been smuggling drugs and other contraband into the prison once or twice per week, he had received bribes of at least $12,000, and inmates owed him an additional $3,000 to $5,000 for contraband he had or was going to provide.
Buenviaje also admitted that he received the contraband and some of the bribe payments by mail addressed to his ministry. Buenviaje received Suboxone—an opioid ordinarily prescribed to treat drug addiction—in its original packaging. Upon receipt, Buenviaje repackaged the drug in cellophane for distribution in the prison. Buenviaje also received notebooks with drug-soaked pages that he smuggled into the prison. After smuggling items he received into the prison, Buenviaje placed the contraband in a cabinet in the prison chapel where inmates would later retrieve the items.
In November 2018, during a consensual search of Buenviaje’s car and office, investigators found 111 Suboxone strips, some of which were in Buenviaje’s car and some of which were in Buenviaje’s office repackaged for distribution. Investigators also located multiple notebooks that Buenviaje had placed in a cabinet in his office for an inmate. Some pages in the notebooks had been soaked with unlawful synthetic cannabinoids, specifically FUB-AMB and 5F-ADB.
Buenviaje is scheduled to be sentenced on August 1, 2019.
“Those who work in federal prisons have a responsibility to uphold the law,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “By smuggling contraband into a prison, this defendant jeopardized the safety of the inmates and staff at the facility. Such conduct simply cannot be tolerated.”
“Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that anyone who violates the public’s trust and jeopardizes the security of federal prisons by introducing contraband will be brought to justice. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to root out smuggling schemes in federal prisons,” said DOJ OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Guido Modano.
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General and FCI-Berlin’s Office of the Special Investigative Supervisor. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
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Dominican Man Sentenced to 240 Months in Prison for Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD –United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Santos Guerrero Morillo, 39, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for his leadership role in a heroin trafficking conspiracy.
Documents filed with the court established that between May 2013 and October 2016, Guerrero Morillo was the leader of the New England cell of an international drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of heroin and other drugs in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. Guerrero Morillo’s cell operated out of Lawrence, Massachusetts, where its members received multi-kilogram shipments of heroin and other drugs, broke the shipments down into smaller units, and distributed them to regional sub-distributors. Guerrero Morillo managed at least ten co-conspirators with various roles related to the receipt, storage, and sale of drugs and laundering of drug proceeds.
Court documents further established that in August of 2015, Guerrero Morillo fled Massachusetts for his native Dominican Republic to avoid arrest by United States law enforcement, but continued to direct his subordinates in Lawrence from afar. Federal authorities sought Guerrero Morillo’s extradition. Dominican officials arrested him in February of 2018 and extradited him in June of 2018 to face charges in the District of New Hampshire.
Guerrero Morillo previously pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with heroin trafficking conspiracy on January 22, 2019.
“International narcotics traffickers seek to profit from the suffering of those who are addicted to heroin and other dangerous drugs,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This case demonstrates the resolve of the law enforcement community in New Hampshire to hold drug traffickers accountable for the damage that they are causing in our state. We will not hesitate to reach into foreign countries, extradite drug traffickers, and bring them back to face justice.”
“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. Morillo, who are contributing to the crisis. Today’s sentence not only holds Mr.Morillo accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; the Massachusetts State Police; the Haverhill Police Department; the United States Marshals Service; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; the Lawrence Police Department; the Lowell Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U. S. Attorney Jarad Hodes. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith previously participated in this prosecution.
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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United States Attorney Murray Encourages Participation in DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27, 2019Read the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray encourages the public to participate in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27, 2019. This biannual event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at thousands of collection sites around the country, including over 100 here in New Hampshire. This event is an important effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.
“One of the simplest ways that all citizens of the Granite State can help to combat the opioid crisis is to ensure that unwanted medications do not fall into the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Far too many individuals started on the path to addiction by misusing prescription drugs. I encourage everyone to take a few minutes to dispose of any prescription drugs that they no longer need in order to help protect their families and their communities.”
“DEA has touched a nerve in America with its recent Take Back events, as evidenced by the millions of pounds of pills collected during our previous 16 events,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “These events are only made possible through the dedicated work and commitment of our local, state and federal partners, and DEA thanks each and every one of them for their continuous efforts on behalf of the American people.”
Last October Americans turned in 457 tons (900,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at almost 6,000 sites operated by the DEA and more than 4,800 of its state and local law enforcement partners. Overall, in its 16 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 11 million pounds—more than 5,400 tons—of pills. The disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. (The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps, only pills or patches.)
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. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 91 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. Some painkiller abusers move on to heroin: Four out of five new heroin users started with painkillers.
Flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards. This initiative addresses the public safety and public health issues that surround medications languishing in home cabinets, becoming highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.
For more information or to locate a collection site near you, go the DEA Prescription Drug Take Back Day web site at https://takebackday.dea.gov/#collection-locator where you can search by zip code, city, or state.
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Dover Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – James Aubin, 46, of Dover, pleaded guilty in federal court on April 23, 2019, to committing a bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 12, 2018, Aubin entered the Bank of New Hampshire branch on Central Avenue in Dover and demanded money from the teller. The teller gave Aubin a quantity of United States currency. After images from bank surveillance videos were shown on local news outlets, investigators were able to positively identify Aubin as the robber. After being arrested, Aubin admitted to robbing the bank.
Aubin is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31, 2019.
“Bank robberies are violent crimes that can inflict fear and endanger bank employees, patrons, and the public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “As part of our effort to combat violent crime, we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who are responsible for bank robberies in the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Dover Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.
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Two Lawrence Massachusetts Men Sentenced for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Concord – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Steven Guerrero, 19, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 69 months in prison, and Julio Saldana, 19, also of Lawrence, was sentenced to 138 months in prison for participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a drug trafficking organization that authorities allege was led by Sergio Martinez, employed Steven Guerrero, Julio Saldana, and others to sell fentanyl to customers from various New England States, including New Hampshire. On each day that the defendants worked, the Martinez organization provided them with at least one 200-gram bag of fentanyl and expected them to sell it and return approximately $6,000 in proceeds. While working for the Martinez organization, Saldana was robbed by a customer and thereafter acquired a firearm for his protection. On March 20, 2019, Saldana got in an altercation with rival gang members which ultimately resulted in a shooting. When the defendant was arrested on charges related to the shooting, officers recovered approximately 160 grams of fentanyl from his pocket.
Guerrero and Saldana both previously pleaded guilty on December 27, 2018.
“Fentanyl trafficking has had a terrible impact on the quality of life for many New Hampshire citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to stop the transportation and sale of this deadly drug, we coordinate with all of our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who are responsible for its distribution. Traffickers should expect to be caught, prosecuted, and incarcerated on long prison terms.”
“Fentanyl is causing tremendous damage to New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Let these sentences be a warning to those traffickers who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. DEA’s top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
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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Manchester Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Michael MacDonald, 29, of Manchester, was sentenced to 78 months for bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 31, 2018, MacDonald entered the Citizens Bank in the Hannaford Market on E. Devine Drive, in Manchester, New Hampshire and gave the teller a note demanding money. The teller gave MacDonald a quantity of United States currency. Surveillance footage was obtained and an officer from Manchester Police Department recognized the robber as MacDonald. After confirming that the robber was MacDonald, an arrest warrant was issued and MacDonald was taken into custody by the Manchester Police Department.
The defendant previously pleaded guilty on January 7, 2019.
“Bank robberies are violent crimes that jeopardize the safety of the public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect the citizens of the Granite State, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit violent crimes in New Hampshire. I am grateful for the efforts of the Manchester Police Department, which led to the arrest and conviction of this individual.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen White Fitzgibbon.
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Concord Man Convicted of Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that a federal jury found Bernard Lindsay, 41, of Concord, New Hampshire, guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The verdict was returned on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.
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 home, officers found a box containing over 16 grams of methamphetamine, over 23 grams of fentanyl, and over 34 grams of cocaine.
Lindsay is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2019.
“New Hampshire continues to suffer from the effects of drug trafficking” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Fentanyl has caused grave damage to our community, cocaine is an ongoing health concern, and methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that is appearing with increasing frequency. I am grateful for the efforts of the law enforcement officers whose work led to this conviction and thank the jury for its service.”
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, Office of Probation and Parole, the Concord Police Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cam T. Le and Georgiana L. Konesky.
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Loudon Man Sentenced to 120 Months for Participating in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Michael Bean, 33, of Loudon, was sentenced to 120 months in prison for conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Bean and his girlfriend, Katie-Jo Waters, were members of a conspiracy in which supplier Edward Espejo, of Las Vegas, Nevada, shipped packages of nearly pure methamphetamine to New Hampshire. Bean and Waters received packages containing methamphetamine in Pembroke and distributed the drugs to New Hampshire buyers. Bean and Waters would then wire the proceeds of drugs sales to Espejo in Las Vegas to purchase additional drugs. Between January and May 2018, Bean and Waters wired a total of more than $28,000 to Espejo in Las Vegas to buy methamphetamine. On May 2, 2018, postal inspectors intercepted a package containing a pound of pure methamphetamine that Espejo was sending to Waters.
Bean previously pleaded guilty on September 27, 2018.
Waters and Espejo previously pleaded guilty. Waters was sentenced on Tuesday to serve 72 months in prison. Espejo is awaiting sentencing.
“Highly pure methamphetamine has been appearing with greater frequency in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This dangerous drug presents a serious and growing threat to public health and safety. In order to deter drug traffickers, the law enforcement community will act aggressively to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who attempt to distribute methamphetamine in the Granite State.”
“Today’s sentencing is a result of a coordinated effort with our federal law enforcement partners to keep these highly addictive drugs out of our communities,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service continuously works to rid the mail of illicit drug trafficking and the associated violence, preserve the integrity of the mail, and, most importantly, provide a safe environment for postal employees and the American public.”
“This sentence reflects DEA’s strong commitment to bring to justice those that distribute methamphetamine,” said 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 off the streets of New Hampshire.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. 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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Manchester Man Sentenced to 76 Months in Federal Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Chris Minarcin, 34, formerly of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to serve 76 months in federal prison for distributing cocaine and possessing over 500 grams of cocaine with the intent to distribute the drugs.
Court documents and statements made in court showed that on three occasions in March, 2016 and January and February of 2017, Minarcin sold quantities of cocaine to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement. The transactions took place in Manchester and Hooksett. Additionally, on two separate occasions in February of 2017, Minarcin was found in possession of over 500 grams of cocaine during traffic stops in Manchester.
Minarcin pleaded guilty to the charges on October 22, 2018. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Minarcin will forfeit $6,510 in drug proceeds to the United States.
“Drug trafficking presents a substantial risk to the health and safety of our citizens,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This investigation is an example of how federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are working together to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who are responsible for distributing illegal drugs in the Granite State.”
“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. Minarcin 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 out of the Granite State.”
“Mr. Minarcin is no different than any other drug trafficker who exploits vulnerable people suffering from addiction. This case is a direct result of the hard work and collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement partners in our efforts to combat those flooding our streets with drugs. The FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Task Force will continue to do everything it can to make sure those bringing drugs and violence to our streets are held accountable,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the DEA, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, the New Hampshire State Police, the Manchester Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and the Lowell Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
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 Five Months in Prison for Role in Bank Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Angel Forteza-Concepcion, 20, of Manchester, has been sentenced to five months in prison and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $4,055.85 for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from November 2017 to February 2018, Forteza-Concepcion and Ariel Mendoza, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, knowingly deposited stolen checks and money orders totaling more than $7,100 into accounts at four federally insured banks. They then obtained proceeds from the stolen checks and money orders by using debit cards assigned to the accounts to withdraw cash at ATMs and perform debit card transactions.
Forteza-Concepcion pleaded guilty on December 19, 2018. Mendoza is serving an 18-month prison sentence and faces likely deportation to the Dominican Republic after he completes his sentence.
“The defendants in this scheme obtained money from multiple banks by depositing stolen checks and money orders,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This type of conduct cannot be tolerated. In order to ensure the integrity of our banking system and protect Granite Staters’ finances, we will aggressively prosecute those who participate in fraud schemes.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service works alongside our local law enforcement partners to conduct investigations of those individuals who compromise the personal information of our customers and who fraudulently use the U.S. Mail for financial gains,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “The integrity of the U.S. Mail is vital to our business and we will continue to work hard to protect it.”
The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case, with assistance from the Police Departments in Manchester and Salem, New Hampshire, and Lawrence, Massachusetts. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella.
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17 Individuals Charged with Drug Trafficking Crimes as Part of Joint Law Enforcement InvestigationRead the Press Release
CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray and New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announced today that 17 individuals have been charged with drug trafficking crimes as part of a joint investigation. Eleven individuals have been charged in federal court with participating in drug trafficking crimes involving suboxone and other controlled substances. Six individuals have been charged in the state court with drug trafficking crimes.
Those charged in federal court include:
Glenn M. Adjutant, 21, of Colebrook, NH, was charged with distribution of Suboxone;
Roxanne Adjutant, 48, of Stratford, NH, was charged with distribution of Suboxone;
Brooke Butler, 35, of Stratford, NH, was charged with distribution of Suboxone;
Peter Carney, 57, of Stewartstown, NH, was charged with distribution of Suboxone;
Rachel Edgerton, 50, of Stewartstown, NH, was charged with distribution of oxycodone;
Korin Gendreau, 32, of West Stewartstown, NH, was charged with distribution of oxycodone;
Dustin Grant, 34, of Colebrook, NH, was charged with distribution of Suboxone;
Michael R. Haynes, 38, of Colebrook, NH, was charged with distribution of methamphetamine;
Sylvia Lewis, 52, of Colebrook, NH, was charged with distribution of hydromorphone;
Brian Rancourt, 44, of Stewartstown, NH, was charged with distribution of Suboxone; and
Eric W. Simpson, 39, of Stratford, NH, was charged with distribution of Suboxone.
Those charged in state court include:
Megan Adjutant, 23, of North Stratford, NH, was charged with sale of methadone;
Erika Bodinski, 36, of Colberook, NH, was charged with sale of Suboxone and conspiracy to sell Suboxone;
Crystal Harding, 36, of Colebrook, NH, was charged with sale of Suboxone;
Cheryl Onduso, 33, of Columbia, NH, was charged with sale of Suboxone;
Heather Roberson, 33, of Colebrook, NH, was charged with sale of Subutex; and
Tasha Smith, 31, of Colebrook, NH, was charged with sale of Suboxone
As a result of a coordinated operation involving federal, state and local law enforcement officers, all of the above-listed individuals have been arrested.
Many of these individuals are charged with distributing Suboxone. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Suboxone is a drug that contains buprenorphine. It often is used to treat opioid dependency. However, because of its opioid effects, it can be misused. When this drug is not taken under a physician’s supervision, it can be dangerous and even deadly. For example, mixing this drug with other medications (particularly benzodiazepines or other sedatives) can lead to overdoses or death.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office and the New Hampshire Attorney General encourage all citizens to be sure to dispose of all unneeded prescriptions drugs in a safe manner. The DEA’s next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is on April 27, 2019.
The defendants are charged by criminal complaints. These charges are only allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This matter was investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the Colebrook Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Coos County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Hampshire Liquor Commission’s Division of Enforcement & Licensing. The federal case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Charles Rombeau and John S. Davis. The state case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Danielle Sakowski and Jesse O’Neill.
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Pembroke Woman Sentenced to 72 Months for Participating in Methamphetamine Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Katie Jo Waters, 29, of Pembroke, was sentenced on Tuesday to 72 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, between January of 2018 and May of 2018, Waters received multiple packages of methamphetamine mailed by persons in Las Vegas, Nevada. Over the same period, to pay for the drugs, Waters made 11 separate money transfers, totaling $18,700, to suppliers in Las Vegas. Postal Inspectors intercepted two of the mailed packages destined for the defendant’s address and seized a total of more than one pound of nearly pure methamphetamine. On April 11, 2018, a New Hampshire State Trooper stopped Waters and another individual in Canterbury, New Hampshire, and eventually seized more than 38 grams of methamphetamine and a Sig Sauer 9 mm. pistol from the car she was driving. Waters was arrested on federal charges on May 9, 2018.
Waters previously pleaded guilty on July 24, 2018.
“Highly pure methamphetamine has been appearing with greater frequency in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This dangerous drug presents a serious and growing threat to public health and safety. In order to deter traffickers, we will remain vigilant in identifying, prosecuting, and incarcerating those who attempt to distribute methamphetamine in the Granite State.”
“Using the U.S. Mail to traffic illegal narcotics, such as methamphetamine, will not be tolerated,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “We will continue to work diligently to investigate those who engage in similar conduct, focusing our efforts on keeping our customers and the U.S. Mail safe.”
“DEA is committed to bring to justice those that distribute methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Ms. Waters accountable for her 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 highly addictive drug out of the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley previously participated in this prosecution.
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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Weare Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Karl Messner, 63, of Weare, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday to possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, starting in June 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a number of CyberTipline Reports regarding suspected child pornography activity. The internet protocol, or IP, addresses associated with those reports all resolved to Messner’s residence in Weare, New Hampshire. In October 2016, investigators obtained a federal search warrant for that residence. During an interview at his house, Messner admitted to viewing child pornography, and that images could be found on his laptop and thumb drives. Investigators seized a laptop and thumb drive on which they later found images of child pornography following a forensic analysis.
Messner is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2019.
“The protection of children is one of the most important duties of law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Child exploitation crimes, including those related to child pornography, are very serious matters. In order to protect the innocence of children, we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit these crimes.”
This matter was investigated by Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Weare Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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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Rochester Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Dennis Chaney, 31, of Rochester, was sentenced to 63 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, as a result of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that on March 12, 2018, Chaney intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Lawrence, Massachusetts to purchase drugs. Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction and observed Chaney’s vehicle arrive. They then followed the vehicle toward New Hampshire and provided information about the investigation to the New Hampshire State Police. A trooper observed the vehicle and stopped the vehicle for traffic violations. The trooper used his drug detection dog, which alerted to Chaney’s vehicle. A search warrant subsequently was executed on the vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of approximately 225 grams of fentanyl.
On March 14, 2018, Chaney telephoned his source in Lawrence, Massachusetts and ordered more drugs. Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction and observed Chaney’s vehicle arrive. They then followed the vehicle toward New Hampshire and again shared this information with the New Hampshire State Police. A trooper observed the vehicle and stopped the vehicle for traffic violations. After a drug detection dog alerted to the vehicle, a search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 98 grams of fentanyl.
During the investigation, Chaney ordered and purchased approximately 845 grams of fentanyl.
Chaney previously pleaded guilty on October 10, 2018.
“This case once again highlights the interstate transportation route traffickers have used to import the deadly drug fentanyl into New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to stop this illegal practice, law enforcement will continue to be aggressive in our efforts to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who are distributing this lethal substance. Those who choose to sell fentanyl in the Granite State should understand that they are very likely to find themselves in federal prison.”
“Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “The DEA will continue to use every resource available to identify those, like Mr. Chaney, who are contributing to the crisis. Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Chaney accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
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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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Walker Manuel Moreta, 32, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between at least January of 2017 through July of 2017, Moreta, with the assistance of others, sold quantities of fentanyl to multiple individuals, including customers from New Hampshire. Moreta and his co-conspirators often operated out of a location on Water Street in Lawrence, Massachusetts. As part of an investigation of Moreta, a cooperating individual purchased over 100 grams of fentanyl from Moreta between May and June of 2017. On July 6, 2017, Moreta was arrested and had 19 grams of fentanyl on his person.
Moreta is scheduled to be sentenced on July 29, 2019.
Two co-conspirators, Miguel Arias-Velasquez and Miguel Vasquez, previously pleaded guilty. Arias-Velasquez was sentenced to serve 48 months in prison. Vasquez is awaiting sentencing.
“Traffickers of fentanyl and heroin continue to cause enormous damage to communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We are working tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who are responsible for the distribution of these deadly substances.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA, with assistance from the Massachusetts State Police, the United States Marshals Service, the New Hampshire State Police, the Lawrence Police Department, with assistance from the Portsmouth Police Department, the Dover Police Department, and the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Farley.
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Dominican Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Heroin Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Geraldo De La Cruz Cabral Pena, 43, of the Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday to conspiring to distribute heroin, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from 2013 to 2016, Cabral Pena facilitated an international heroin distribution conspiracy with connections to Colombia, Guatemala, and Mexico. Multi-kilogram loads of heroin were smuggled into the United States from Mexico, and Cabral Pena then facilitated deliveries of the heroin to numerous regional drug trafficking organizations along a route from Texas to Massachusetts. Heroin arriving in Lawrence, Massachusetts would then be distributed by a local drug trafficking organization to sub-distributors in New Hampshire and the rest of northern New England. Cabral Pena also collected payment from the regional drug trafficking organizations through multiple means including bulk cash smuggling. Pena was arrested by Dominican Republic authorities in March 2018 at the request of the United States government, and he was extradited to the United States to face these charges on August 16, 2018.
Cabral Pena is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22, 2019.
“International drug trafficking organizations have brought large quantities of heroin and other drugs into New England, causing untold damage to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This case is an example of the law enforcement community’s effort to target the larger distribution networks that have supplied heroin to drug traffickers in the Granite State. We will not be deterred by state or international borders in our efforts to hold drug traffickers responsible for their crimes.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; the Massachusetts State Police; the Haverhill Police Department; the United States Marshals Service; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; the Lawrence Police Department; the Lowell Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad E. Hodes.
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Lempster Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jesse R. Lohman, 37, of Lempster, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 31, 2018, police encountered Lohman in the driver’s seat of a parked car at the Route 3A Park and Ride parking lot in Bow, New Hampshire. Lohman was alone in the car. After determining that there was a warrant for Lohman’s arrest, officers detained him and impounded the car. During a subsequent search of the car, officers discovered six bags containing approximately 76.1 grams of 99 percent pure methamphetamine.
Lohman is scheduled to be sentenced on July 12, 2019.
“Methamphetamine is a very dangerous drug that is appearing with more frequency in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Because of the dangers associated with this substance, we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are responsible for distributing methamphetamine. I am grateful to the police offices from Bow whose efforts prevented a significant amount of highly-pure methamphetamine from being sold in our community.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bow Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.
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Plymouth Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Steven Moore, 36, of Plymouth, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
Court filings and statements made in court established that Moore and Samantha Merrifield arranged to sell approximately 50 grams of fentanyl to an undercover police officer on October 10, 2018.
Moore previously pleaded guilty on December 18 2018.
Merrifield will be sentenced on June 26, 2019.
“Fentanyl distribution is a serious problem throughout the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, arrest, and incarcerate drug dealers who choose to engage in this illegal and dangerous trade in New Hampshire.”
“The state of New Hampshire is faced with a fentanyl crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 90 Months for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Danien Brousseau, 40, of Manchester, was sentenced on Tuesday to 90 months in prison for bank robbery, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 2:30 p.m. on April 16, 2018, Brousseau robbed the St. Mary’s Bank in Manchester. At approximately 7:30 p.m. that evening, a Manchester police officer was in the area of Pine Street and Lake Avenue when he observed Brousseau in the area, made contact with him, and arrested him.
Brousseau previously pleaded guilty on December 14, 2018.
“Violent crimes such as bank robberies endanger public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The law enforcement community in New Hampshire works together to protect the public from violent crime and to ensure that there are substantial consequences for those who commit these crimes. I commend the Manchester Police for quickly apprehending this bank robber.”
“Mr. Brousseau only cared about lining his own pockets with stolen cash. With today’s sentence, he’s finally being held accountable for his crime and the FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to combat violent crimes, including bank robberies, so that citizens can feel safe in their communities,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen W. Fitzgibbon.
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Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms and AssaultRead the Press Release
CONCORD - William Charles Pelletier, 36, of Andover, Maine, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to unlawful transportation of a firearm in interstate commerce and misdemeanor assault, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on March 13, 2018, the defendant was indicted in the Northern District of Georgia for felony abusive sexual contact. It is unlawful for a person who is under indictment for a felony to transport a firearm or ammunition in interstate commerce. On November 25, 2018, while that charge remained pending and the defendant was on pretrial release, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent conducted a traffic stop of the defendant’s black Cadillac Escalade after observing the vehicle travel from Vermont to New Hampshire. Ultimately, a search of the vehicle yielded two firearms and over 300 grams of suspected marijuana. The defendant admitted that the drugs and guns in the vehicle belonged to him. In addition, the defendant resolved the pending charge in the Northern District of Georgia by pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault related to groping a passenger on an airplane.
Pelletier is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11,2019.
“Criminal activity involving firearms presents an increased risk of harm to the public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect the citizens of New Hampshire, we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who illegally possess guns.”
“Swanton Sector appreciates the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire in their diligent prosecution of this case and the ATF for their ongoing partnership,” said U.S. Border Patrol Swanton Sector Acting Chief Patrol Agent William Maddocks. “All the partner agencies involved in this case work hard every day to protect our communities from all threats and make them a safer place to live.”
This matter was investigated by the U.S. Border Patrol 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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Former University of New Hampshire Employee Sentenced for Stealing Government FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jichun Zhang, 47, of Durham, was sentenced to two years of probation for stealing money from federal research grants, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Zhang was a former Research Associate Professor at the University of New Hampshire’s Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space (EOS). Zhang was authorized to use a credit card provided by UNH to pay for expenses covered by federal research grants that were awarded to UNH by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
On 31 separate occasions from January 2016 to December 2017, Zhang used the credit card to purchase items totaling more than $6,900 from Amazon.com, e-Bay, and Apple, Inc., for his personal benefit. For each such transaction, Zhang submitted a fictitious receipt and a fraudulent written justification for the expense to UNH. The bogus documents caused the University System of New Hampshire to make payments on the credit card and obtain reimbursement for the unauthorized expenses from the NASA grants.
Zhang previously pleaded guilty to this felony offense on December 13, 2018. Zhang already has paid the full amount of restitution in this matter.
“When federal funds are used for research grants, the taxpayers rightly expect that their money will be used appropriately,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to protect federal funds from being stolen or misused.”
“Mr. Zhang knowingly and willfully abused his position of trust to steal federal funds that should have been spent on important research funded by NASA. Together with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to do everything we can to identify and bring to justice others like him who fraudulently misuse government money to line their own pockets,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division.
“This investigation exposed an individual that used federal funds to advance his own personal gain. I commend the outstanding efforts of our agents, the University, and other law enforcement agencies involved in protecting the integrity of federal research grants and contracts,” said Curtis Vaughn, Special Agent in Charge of NASA’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations.
The case was investigated by the UNH Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from the Police Departments in Durham, Nottingham, and Newmarket, New Hampshire. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella.
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Citizen of Dominican Republic Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison for Stealing Mail and Conspiracy to Commit Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Ariel Mendoza, 27, a citizen of Dominican Republic, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing items of mail and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents, from November 2017 to March 2018, several residents of Salem and Manchester, New Hampshire, and Lawrence, Massachusetts, reported to their local police departments that they had used public mailboxes near their homes to mail personal checks or money orders that were not delivered to the intended recipients. On November 26, 2017, a video surveillance camera near a public mailbox in front of the U.S. Post Office in Salem, New Hampshire, captured images of Mendoza and another person as they stole items from the mailbox.
In addition, from November 2017 to May 2018, Mendoza and three other people knowingly deposited checks and money orders totaling more than $27,000 that were stolen from the mailboxes. After each deposit, Mendoza and his co-conspirators used debit cards assigned to the accounts to make cash withdrawals at ATMs and to purchase merchandise from retail businesses.
Mendoza pleaded guilty to the offenses on December 13, 2018. He faces likely deportation to the Dominican Republic after serving his prison sentence.
“Citizens should be able to trust that their mail is safe,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Those who steal from the U.S. mail should be aware that they face arrest and the possible imposition of prison time. We will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit financial crimes that harm the citizens of the Granite State.”
“Today’s sentencing reinforces the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s commitment to investigating and seeking prosecution of individuals who steal mail,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “The cooperation and hard work of our fellow law enforcement agencies illustrates the common mission of protecting our citizens and preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail. Financial crimes such as these can have long lasting impacts for the victims.”
The case was investigated by United States Postal Inspection Service and the Manchester and Salem, New Hampshire Police Departments. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella.
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Defendant Who Exploited Opioid Addictions of Young Women Convicted of Crimes Related to Drug Trafficking and ProstitutionRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – After a three-day trial, a federal jury in Concord, New Hampshire, found Steven Tucker, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire, guilty on March 22 of one count of sex trafficking of a minor and of using interstate facilities to promote a prostitution business enterprise and maintaining a drug-involved premise. The verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray for the District of New Hampshire, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Boston.
Evidence presented at trial established that, between October 2013 and June 2014, the defendant operated drug and prostitution businesses in the Manchester area. He sold heroin to numerous individuals, including young women and a minor. Witnesses described how the defendant used their addictions to cause them to prostitute for his profit. The defendant would often front heroin to the women and then arrange prostitution “dates” for them. The women were required to give the defendant half of the proceeds and then purchase heroin from him with the remainder.
On other occasions, the defendant withheld heroin from the women, causing them to suffer painful withdrawal symptoms, and then instructed them to prostitute to earn money to purchase heroin from him. The defendant’s scheme guaranteed that he had a steady source of drug customers and money. Some of the women were required to help the defendant sell his heroin and received heroin in exchange. The defendant used violence and threats to maintain control of the women. The investigation began in 2014, when the mother of one of the women called the Manchester Police Department after the defendant beat her daughter.
“Motivated by greed, the defendant preyed on young, vulnerable women, selling them heroin, exploiting their addictions, and prostituting them for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Civil Rights Division and its Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit will continue its vigorous efforts to work with our federal and state partners to hold human traffickers accountable, vindicate the rights of their victims, and eradicate this despicable and inhumane exploitation from our country.”
“This case demonstrates the power of opioids to support criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. “This defendant took advantage of young women, using heroin and violence to induce them to commit acts of prostitution for his personal profit. His conduct was even more disturbing because he victimized a minor. We will continue to work closely with the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force and all of our law enforcement partners to identify, arrest and prosecute those who engage in this type of unlawful and exploitive activity.”
“We’re grateful that the Jury has brought back this verdict.” said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Boston. “This case, where the offender cruelly exploited his victims through drug addiction and violence to induce them to prostitute, was disturbing on several levels. The strong partnership among our HSI Special Agents, the Manchester Police Department, victim advocates, and the members of the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force was critical in investigating this case. We hope this verdict can serve as some small measure of healing for the victims of this dangerous threat to the community.”
This prosecution is the result of the joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, and the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (HTPU). The Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office provided victim assistance in the case.
The New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force is a multidisciplinary effort comprised of law enforcement as well as social, medical, and legal services for victims of human trafficking. The Task Force is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) and Bureau of Justice Programs (BJA).
The core team members of the Task Force are the Manchester Police Department, Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold Huftalen for the District of New Hampshire and Trial Attorney Vasantha Rao for the Civil Rights Division’s HTPU, with assistance from HTPU Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky.
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19-0265
Defendant Who Exploited Opioid Addictions of Young Women Convicted of Crimes Related to Drug Trafficking and ProstitutionRead the Press Release
After a three-day trial, a federal jury in Concord, New Hampshire, found Steven Tucker, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire, guilty on March 22 of one count of sex trafficking of a minor and of using interstate facilities to promote a prostitution business enterprise and maintaining a drug-involved premise. The verdict was announced by Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray for the District of New Hampshire, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Boston.
Evidence presented at trial established that, between October 2013 and June 2014, the defendant operated drug and prostitution businesses in the Manchester area. He sold heroin to numerous individuals, including young women and a minor. Witnesses described how the defendant used their addictions to cause them to prostitute for his profit. The defendant would often front heroin to the women and then arrange prostitution “dates” for them. The women were required to give the defendant half of the proceeds and then purchase heroin from him with the remainder.
On other occasions, the defendant withheld heroin from the women, causing them to suffer painful withdrawal symptoms, and then instructed them to prostitute to earn money to purchase heroin from him. The defendant’s scheme guaranteed that he had a steady source of drug customers and money. Some of the women were required to help the defendant sell his heroin and received heroin in exchange. The defendant used violence and threats to maintain control of the women. The investigation began in 2014, when the mother of one of the women called the Manchester Police Department after the defendant beat her daughter.
“Motivated by greed, the defendant preyed on young, vulnerable women, selling them heroin, exploiting their addictions, and prostituting them for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. “The Civil Rights Division and its Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit will continue its vigorous efforts to work with our federal and state partners to hold human traffickers accountable, vindicate the rights of their victims, and eradicate this despicable and inhumane exploitation from our country.”
“This case demonstrates the power of opioids to support criminal activity,” said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. “This defendant took advantage of young women, using heroin and violence to induce them to commit acts of prostitution for his personal profit. His conduct was even more disturbing because he victimized a minor. We will continue to work closely with the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force and all of our law enforcement partners to identify, arrest and prosecute those who engage in this type of unlawful and exploitive activity.”
“We’re grateful that the jury has brought back this verdict.” said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Boston. “This case, where the offender cruelly exploited his victims through drug addiction and violence to induce them to prostitute, was disturbing on several levels. The strong partnership among our HSI Special Agents, the Manchester Police Department, victim advocates, and the members of the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force was critical in investigating this case. We hope this verdict can serve as some small measure of healing for the victims of this dangerous threat to the community.”
This prosecution is the result of the joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations and the Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire, and the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit (HTPU). The Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office provided victim assistance in the case.
The New Hampshire Human Trafficking Collaborative Task Force is a multidisciplinary effort comprised of law enforcement as well as social, medical, and legal services for victims of human trafficking. The Task Force is funded by a grant from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime (OVC) and Bureau of Justice Programs (BJA).
The core team members of the Task Force are the Manchester Police Department, Child and Family Services of New Hampshire, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Hampshire.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold Huftalen for the District of New Hampshire and Trial Attorney Vasantha Rao for the Civil Rights Division’s HTPU, with assistance from HTPU Trial Attorney Maryam Zhuravitsky.
Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Nestor Santiago Torres, 33, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to 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 the 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, the, defendant Torres admitted that the drugs belonged to him and that he had been engaged in the distribution of drugs.
Torres is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9th 2019.
“The illegal distribution of fentanyl poses an immediate and ongoing threat to people of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to eliminate this threat, we will continue to work closely with the entire law enforcement community to identify and prosecute those who are responsible. I commend the State Police for their highway enforcement work in this case. Their efforts prevented a substantial amount of this deadly substance from being distributed in the Granite State.”
“This prosecution is another win for the people of New Hampshire and our region,” said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI and our law enforcement partners stand ever-ready to fight against the plague of opioid and fentanyl trafficking in our communities.”
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police and Homeland Security Investigations. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John P. Davis.
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Maine Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Donald Fillmore, 42, of Exeter, Maine, was sentenced to 63 months in prison for fentanyl trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on November 14, 2017, members of the New Hampshire State Police conducted a routine traffic stop and encountered Fillmore. Pursuant to a consent search, the troopers recovered approximately 714 grams of fentanyl, which Fillmore admitted belonged to him.
Fillmore previously pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute on October 29, 2018.
“Fentanyl has been responsible for hundreds of overdose deaths in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “I commend the New Hampshire State Police for their efforts in this case, which led to the seizure of a significant quantity of this deadly drug. By removing this fentanyl from the distribution chain, they may have given many people a chance to survive.”
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam T. Le.
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Concord Man Sentenced to 63 Months for Unlawfully Possessing Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Nathaniel Carr, 25, of Concord, was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on August 1, 2018, a police officer saw a Chevrolet Trailblazer with expired temporary license plates, driven by Carr, exit a convenience store’s parking lot on Loudon Road. A police officer later located the vehicle, with Carr sitting in the driver’s seat, in another parking lot on Loudon Road. At that location, the police officer parked behind the Trailblazer. When Carr opened the driver’s door, the police officer saw a .22 caliber revolver in the pocket of the driver’s door and a box of .22 caliber ammunition in front of the front passenger seat. As a previously-convicted felon, Carr is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
While later executing a warrant to search Carr’s residence on August 24, 2018, the Concord Police Department found 20 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, 31 rounds of .38 caliber ammunition, and .380 caliber pistol in the kitchen; and a .12 gauge shotgun shell in Carr’s bedroom. Officers also found methamphetamine and fentanyl in the kitchen.
Carr previously pleaded guilty on December 6, 2018.
“In order to keep our communities safe, it is vital to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners throughout New Hampshire to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who violate federal firearms laws.”
“As a previously convicted felon, Mr. Carr should have known better than to break the law again. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to keep illegally obtained weapons out of the hands of others like him,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the Concord Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Anna Krasinski prosecuted 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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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison on Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Concord – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Joshua Smith, 31, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 180 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a drug trafficking organization that authorities allege was led by Sergio Martinez, employed the defendant to sell fentanyl to customers from various New England States, including New Hampshire. On each day that the defendant worked, the Martinez organization provided him with at least one 200-gram bag of fentanyl and expected him to sell it and return approximately $6,000 in proceeds. The defendant worked for the Martinez organization on various days. On October 20, 2017, the defendant was arrested while selling drugs for the organization. At the time, he possessed a firearm that he admitted to carrying to avoid being robbed by drug customers.
Smith previously pleaded guilty on December 18, 2018.
“Fentanyl traffickers who carry firearms present an enhanced danger to the public.” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The law enforcement community is united in its effort to stop the flow of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs into New Hampshire. In order to protect the community, we will seek lengthy prison sentences for fentanyl traffickers, particularly those who use guns to further their criminal activities.”
“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Smith accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
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 and Seth R. Aframe.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 102 Months for Heroin TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD- Darrell Self, 44, of Springfield, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for heroin trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 23, 2017, New Hampshire State Troopers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle Self was driving on Interstate 95 near Portsmouth. During the course of the traffic stop, Self threw an object over the guardrail of the highway. Officers later recovered the object and determined that it was a bag containing approximately 40 grams of heroin. A subsequent pat-down search of Self revealed that he had a wad of cash totaling $1,106 in his pocket.
Self previously pleaded guilty to possession of heroin with intent to distribute on December 3, 2018.
“Our major highways provide ready access for the transportation of heroin and other dangerous drugs into New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Traffickers who transport the drugs face enhanced enforcement efforts and stiff prison sentences. We will continue to work closely with New Hampshire State Police and all of our law enforcement partners in order to bring this deadly trade to a halt.”
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes.
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Littleton Man Pleads Guilty to Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Christian Taveras-Polanco, a/k/a Lemuel Cruz Cepeda, 40, of Littleton, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on December 6, 2018, law enforcement officers surveilled Taveras-Polanco driving around the Littleton, New Hampshire, area in a gold Hummer registered to Lemuel Cruz Cepeda and stopping at two residences for a brief time. A traffic stop was conducted on the Hummer, and Taveras-Polanco initially identified himself as a citizen of the United States named Lemuel Cruz Cepeda. A consent search of the vehicle revealed 140 grams of cocaine. Taveras-Polanco was arrested and later admitted that he is a citizen of the Dominican Republic named Christian Taveras-Polanco, not a United States citizen named Lemuel Cruz Cepeda. Officers obtained a search warrant for Taveras-Polanco’s residence and located 302 additional grams of cocaine there.
Taveras-Polanco is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2019.
“Drug trafficking causes untold damage to communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. It is of vital importance that we push back aggressively against the sale of these deadly substances. We are fully committed to working with our law enforcement partners throughout the state to identify and prosecute those who are involved in distributing cocaine and other dangerous drugs.”
“We’re thankful for the successful prosecution of this individual, which should be seen as a sign of the seriousness with which federal law enforcement takes the threat posed by criminal illegal aliens who prey on U.S. citizens and the communities they hide within,“ said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent In Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
This matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes.
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Nine Individuals Indicted for Participating in Drug Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Concord – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that nine individuals have been charged with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy. The indictments are the culmination of a year-long investigation by the FBI in coordination with federal, state, and local authorities in New Hampshire.
On March 6, 2019, the following individuals were charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, cocaine and crack cocaine:
- George Cruz, 30, Nashua, New Hampshire;
- Lawrence Fortenberry, 65, Nashua, New Hampshire;
- William Greenleaf, 42, Nashua, New Hampshire;
- Donald Johnson, 34, Nashua, New Hampshire;
- Isaiah Kinard, 29, Manchester, New Hampshire;
- Marvin Morrison, 36, Nashua, New Hampshire;
- Terray Morrison, 30, Nashua, New Hampshire;
- Melvin Nooks, Jr., 28, Fitchburg, Massachusetts; and
- Melvin Stanford, 40, Manchester, New Hampshire
As a result of a coordinated operation involving federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, all of the above-listed individuals have been arrested.
If convicted, Morrison, Stanford, Cruz, and Nooks Jr. face a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, as well as a fine of up to $10 million. The other defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
“Drug traffickers endanger the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “The arrest and prosecution of drug traffickers is a top priority for this office. We are working closely with the FBI and all of our law enforcement partners to stop the distribution of drugs in order to protect the citizens of the Granite State.”
“As alleged, these individuals distributed crack cocaine in New Hampshire for several years and disrupting drug trafficking organizations like this one is a critical part of our mission. The FBI will continue to focus our energy, and expertise to help our law enforcement partners stem the tide of drugs flooding our streets,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
The indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
This investigation was the product of an investigation 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 FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force; the Nashua Police Department; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; New Hampshire Probation and Parole; DEA; Massachusetts State Police Department; Portsmouth Police Department and the Federal Protective Service. The United States Marshals Service also assisted in the investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, and Anna Krasinski.
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Michigan Man Pleads Guilty to Bank Fraud and Aggrevated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Deandray Buckley, 27, of Belleville, Michigan, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Buckley was part of an interstate scheme with others to steal people’s personal identifying information, including social security numbers and bank account information. Buckley obtained this identification information from his accomplices and online and then used it to obtain fake driver’s licenses with other people’s identifying information and his or an accomplice’s photograph. Buckley and an accomplice used the fake driver’s licenses to impersonate bank customers and withdraw or attempt to withdraw money from those bank customers’ accounts. When entering a bank branch, Buckley or an accomplice wore slings on their arms or bandaged their fingers together in case bank tellers asked why the signature on the withdrawal slip did not match the account owners’ signature on file at the bank.
Between October 2017 and February 2018, Buckley or an accomplice entered over 17 bank branches in New Hampshire, Kansas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Rhode Island and stole or attempted to steal over $90,000 from other people’s bank accounts. On February 27, 2018, Buckley was arrested by the Salem, New Hampshire Police Department after attempting to withdraw $6,000 from another person’s bank account at a Citizen’s Bank branch in Salem. Branch employees recognized Buckley from previous internal fraud alerts, denied the transaction, and called the police. In addition to identifying information from the known fraud victims, Buckley and an accomplice’s cell phones contained bank account information or social security numbers of at least 52 other individuals.
Buckley pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. He will be sentenced on June 25, 2019.
Another alleged participant in the scheme is charged with wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft in the United States District Court for the District of Kansas. A defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
“Identify theft and fraud crimes cause very real damage to their victims,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We take these fraud crimes very seriously and work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute fraudsters who victimize citizens of the Granite State.”
“The deliberate use of someone else’s identity for financial gain creates considerable impacts for victims,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division. “The loss of time and money among other things, can be devastating. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work diligently to keep our customer’s personal information secure.”
This matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, and the Overland Park Kansas Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter from the District of New Hampshire and Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Oakley from the District of Kansas.
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Franklin Man Sentenced to 66 Months for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Stephen Marando, 58, formerly of Franklin, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for fentanyl trafficking charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 13, 2017, Marando and another individual drove from Franklin, New Hampshire, to Lawrence, Massachusetts in order to buy fentanyl. After they obtained the fentanyl and were on their way back to Franklin, the New Hampshire State Police conducted a traffic stop on their vehicle. During the course of the stop, the other individual attempted to discard a package containing 91 grams of fentanyl that they had been picked up in Lawrence.
Marando pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute on July 24, 2018.
“Traffickers who transport fentanyl into New Hampshire should understand that they face serious consequences in federal court” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Prison sentences await those who trade in this deadly drug. In order to protect our citizens, law enforcement will continue to focus its efforts on stopping the flow of fentanyl into the Granite State.”
“This synthetic opioid is 50-100 times more powerful than heroin and we are not going to idly stand by and let more friends, family members and neighbors get addicted, or die of drug overdoses. Together, with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to use every tool at our disposal to tackle the opioid crisis head on, and put individuals like Mr. Marando behind bars. The goal is and always will be to stem the flow of illegal drugs and reduce crime,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Laconia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case.
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Massachusetts Woman Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud and Money Laundering Charges Related to Fraudulent Investment SchemeRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jessica M. Teixeira, 41, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court today to wire fraud and money laundering charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made in court, between December 2015 and November 2017, Teixeira defrauded two New Hampshire investors by selling them a series of securities that were supposedly guaranteed and would generate high rates of return. Teixeira represented herself as a solicitor of high-yield investment funds with connections to investment groups raising funds associated with domestic and foreign real estate developments, who solicited financing through private investors rather than banks. In fact, Teixeira's claims to be connected to high-level investment groups were false, the investment contracts and notes she sold were worthless, and they generated no returns. Teixeira would simply convert the invested funds to her own personal use and benefit, without returning any of the invested funds. In total, the Teixeira obtained approximately $296,250 from the two investors.
A sentencing date for Teixeira was not scheduled during the plea hearing.
“Those who peddle fraudulent investment schemes deprive their victims of their hard-earned money for personal benefit,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “This case is an example of federal law enforcement’s combined effort to identify and prosecute those who commit financial fraud in New Hampshire.”
“Ms. Teixeira’s conduct is a reminder to those who invest that integrity is not found behind every door. Those who defraud investors to unjustly enrich themselves will pay a hefty price,” said Special Agent in Charge Kristina O’Connell, of IRS Criminal Investigations in Boston. “We are proud to bring our financial expertise to joint investigations of this type to help prevent future victims of investment schemes.”
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Davis and Anna Dronzek.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Illegally Attempting to Buy Guns in HooksettRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jose Rafael Soriano, 28, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for aiding another in an illegal effort to purchase firearms, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.
According to court documents and statements made during the prosecution of the case, on July 15, 2015, Soriano, and three friends, Michael Younge, Adrian Aleman and Tasha Gardner, visited a federally licensed firearms dealer in Hooksett, New Hampshire. Of the four, only Gardner was legally eligible to buy handguns. Soriano and Younge, with Aleman’s help, solicited Gardner to buy two handguns on their behalf. Gardner agreed to assist and attempted to purchase the two guns for Soriano and Younge. In connection with that attempt, Gardner filled out a form legally required for all intrastate over-the-counter handgun purchases on which she falsely certified that she was the “actual purchaser” of the two handguns, when she was really attempting to buy them for Soriano and Younge. The store never transferred the firearms because its employees became suspicious and declined to complete the transaction.
All of the individuals involved in this crime pleaded guilty. On July 30, 2017, Younge was sentenced to serve five years in prison. On March 13, 2017, Gardner was sentenced to three years of probation. On April 7, 2017, Aleman was sentenced to two years of probation.
Soriano previously pleaded guilty on October 12, 2018.
“In order to keep our communities safe, it is vital to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Those who illegally possess firearms present a real danger to public safety. We will continue to be aggressive in our efforts to prevent criminals from obtaining guns and to prosecute those who illegally buy guns for criminals.”
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance from the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Debra M. Walsh.
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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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Illegal Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Leonardo Aybar, 35, formerly of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy and illegally reentering the United States, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from December of 2016 through February of 2017, Aybar conspired with Emmanuel Encarnacion, also formerly from Lawrence, to sell approximately 95 grams of fentanyl to an undercover New Hampshire State Police detective inside the Rockingham Mall in Salem, New Hampshire.
At the time of the offense, Aybar was unlawfully in the United States. He previously had been deported to the Dominican Republic in 2010.
Aybar is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2019. Aybar is subject to potential deportation to the Dominican Republic after he completes his prison sentence. Co-conspirator Encarnacion previously was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.
“Those who unlawfully distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire should understand that they will be prosecuted aggressively,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect the safety of our community, we will work closely with all of our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who bring this deadly substance into the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
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Salem Man Sentenced to over a Year in Prison for Tax EvasionRead the Press Release
CONCORD- Blake Ruggiero, 44, of Salem, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for tax evasion, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendant has owned and operated Romano’s Pizza in Salem since 1994. The defendant paid a substantial portion of wages to Romano’s employees in cash and failed to declare these wages to the Internal Revenue Service in order to reduce his tax liability. The defendant kept multiple sets of books that were seized as part of a search warrant. These documents showed the amounts that the defendant paid in cash but did not report. As a result of the defendant’s conduct, between 2011 and 2016, the defendant failed to pay to the IRS $621,614.88 of employment-related taxes.
Ruggiero previously plead guilty on November 27, 2018.
“As we approach the tax filing season, this case is a sobering reminder that tax evasion is a serious crime,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Those who act dishonestly to avoid paying their fair share of taxes undermine the integrity of the tax system. We will continue to work with the IRS to identify and prosecute those who violate our tax laws.”
“Our nation's tax system requires all of us to pay what we owe, or else our society cannot function,” said Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigations in Boston. “This is an appropriate sentence for an individual who failed to pay significant employment taxes owed by his restaurant. Those who skirt the law in this manner gain a competitive advantage that is unfair to honest taxpayers. Violators will be prosecuted, punished and obligated to repay their taxes, along with substantial penalties and interest.”
This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Aframe.
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Pittsfield Man Sentenced to 130 Months for Methamphetamine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - John F. Kelekci, 35, of Pittsfield, New Hampshire, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday to serve 130 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in late 2016, the DEA and the Postal Inspection Service investigated numerous parcels mailed from Las Vegas, Nevada, to New Hampshire suspected of containing methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers also investigated parcels mailed from New Hampshire to Las Vegas, Nevada, suspected of containing United States currency, and money transfers from New Hampshire to Las Vegas. Eventually, law enforcement officers identified Edward Espejo as the individual in Las Vegas who was shipping methamphetamine to New Hampshire in return for money transfers or packages of cash mailed to him.
On December 19, 2017, a Priority Express Mail parcel was mailed from "Brian C Sullivan" at an address in Las Vegas, to a business in Suncook, New Hampshire. On December 20, 2017, an employee of the business contacted local law enforcement to report concerns that the parcel contained illegal narcotics. Police responded to the business and discovered that the parcel contained a plastic vacuum-sealed bag containing 123.9 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine. After interviewing witnesses at the business, law enforcement identified the defendant as the intended recipient of the parcel and determined that, earlier in the day on December 20, 2017, the defendant had been waiting at the business for a parcel to arrive, but had departed the business before the mail arrived. Further investigation revealed that the day before the package was shipped, the defendant had wired $2,400 to Espejo in Las Vegas as payment for the drugs.
In January of 2018, the defendant drove from New Hampshire to Las Vegas and met with
Espejo in person. While in Las Vegas, the defendant was wired money by several New Hampshire residents. On January 16, 2018, the defendant mailed two packages to New Hampshire, each containing more than five grams of actual methamphetamine. The first package was intercepted and seized pursuant to a search warrant. On January 20, 2018, the defendant flew home to New Hampshire, leaving behind the car he had driven to Las Vegas at Espejo's house.
On March 9, 2018, the defendant was arrested in New Hampshire by local police following a vehicle chase. During a search of the vehicle the defendant was driving, police seized multiple items, including $6,150 in cash, a Wal-Mart money transfer receipt for $1,500 with Edward Espejo's name on it, and 27.8 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine.
Records obtained in the investigation confirmed hundreds of telephone contacts between the defendant and Espejo, as well as multiple money transfers to Espejo and one of Espejo’s associates.
Kelekci previously pleaded guilty on September 27, 2018.
Espejo previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Two other defendants in this conspiracy, Michael Bean and Mark Moore, are also awaiting sentencing.
“This case highlights the emergence of methamphetamine as a lethal substance that threatens the health and safety of New Hampshire communities,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Traffickers will use any available means, including the U.S. Mail, to transport their deadly products across the country, making them available for sale on our streets. As is apparent from the lengthy sentence imposed in this case, those who choose to bring methamphetamine into New Hampshire should understand that they face severe consequences for this unlawful conduct.”
“DEA is committed to bring to justice those that distribute methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “DEA and its local, state and federal partners will do everything in our power to keep this highly addictive drug off the streets of New Hampshire.”
“The sentence imposed should give fair warning that the U.S. Postal Inspection Service will seek justice for those who traffic illegal narcotics through the U.S. Mail,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division. “This highly addictive drug has no place in our communities. We will continue to identify and investigate those who engage in this type of drug trafficking."
This matter was investigated by the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 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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Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Grant Michallyszyn, 22, of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court 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, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at a hotel room in Nashua where Michallyszyn was staying. During the search, law enforcement seized two handguns, nine rounds of ammunition, digital scales, and various drugs, including over 39 grams of fentanyl. Under federal law, it is unlawful to possess a firearm to protect one’s drug trafficking activities or the location from which one distributes narcotics.
Michallyszyn is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2019.
“The illegal sale of fentanyl poses a serious and well-known risk to public health and safety” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “When fentanyl dealers use firearms to further sales, the danger to the public is greatly increased. Accordingly, the aggressive prosecution of armed fentanyl dealers will continue to be a priority for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“Today Mr. Michallyszyn finally accepted responsibility for illegally possessing firearms to protect his stash of narcotics in pursuit of his drug trafficking activities. This case is another example of how the FBI will continue to work in lock-step with our law enforcement partners to eliminate guns, drugs and violence from our neighborhoods,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division.
This matter was investigated by the FBI and Nashua Police Department, with assistance from the New Hampshire Attorney General's office. 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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Concord Man Sentenced to 77 Months for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - Jason Sfara, 44, of Concord, was sentenced to 77 months in prison for possession of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, parole officers attempted to conduct a parole inspection of Sfara's apartment in Concord on May 15, 2018, and Sfara fled to the roof of the building. The Concord Police Department responded to provide assistance and arrested Sfara on the roof. Officers ultimately obtained a search warrant for Sfara's apartment and found an array of illegal drugs including 107.8 grams of fentanyl, 32 grams of cocaine, and 20 grams of methamphetamine, along with digital scales and other drug distribution paraphernalia.
Sfara previously pleaded guilty on November 26, 2018.
“In New Hampshire, drug trafficking has created the most serious public health hazard in living memory and also the greatest challenge for law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “I commend the Concord Police Department for its efforts to remove these deadly substances from the streets of our Capital City. We continue to work closely with all of our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who choose to endanger our community by selling dangerous illegal drugs.”
This matter was investigated by the Concord Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes.
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Littleton Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Keith Baker, 24, of Littleton, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included wiretaps of certain telephones, investigators learned that on April 8, 2018, Baker intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Massachusetts to purchase fentanyl. The Woodstock, New Hampshire, Police Department later seized approximately 41.3 grams of fentanyl from a vehicle in which the defendant was a passenger. The investigation revealed that from February 23, 2018, and continuing through April 8, 2018, Baker ordered fentanyl from drug distributors in Massachusetts on various occasions. He then redistributed that fentanyl to customers in New Hampshire.
Baker is scheduled to be sentenced on June 13, 2019.
“Fentanyl trafficking has inflicted damage throughout New Hampshire. Dealers who transport this deadly substance into the state should be aware that they will be detected, arrested and prosecuted,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with all of our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of illegal drugs.”
The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the Drug Enforcement Administration; 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 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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Citizen of Mexico Convicted of Reentry after DeportationRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that a federal jury found Eleazar Flores-Mora, 32, a citizen of Mexico, guilty of reentering the United States after deportation. The verdict was returned on Wednesday, March 6, 2019.
According to trial exhibits and witness testimony during the two-day jury trial, Eleazar Flores-Mora, a citizen of Mexico was originally encountered in Manchester, New Hampshire in September of 2009 by agents with the Department of Homeland Security who were investigating persons believed to be in the county illegally. Flores-Mora was subsequently found by an Immigration Court to be present in the United States illegally and was deported from the United States in March, 2013. Flores-Mora was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations Officers when they encountered him in Manchester again on August 28, 2018.
Flores-Mora was convicted of one count of reentry after deportation. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2019 and is likely to be deported from the United States after serving his sentence.
“In order to protect the integrity of the immigration system, those who enter the United States illegally after previously being deported are subject to prosecution,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.
“We’re very pleased that justice has been done in this case,” said Todd M. Lyons, Acting Field Office Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) for the Boston area of responsibility. “Illegally re-entering the U.S. after having been removed previously is a serious violation of federal law. We appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s strong commitment to prosecuting those who would continue to disrespect U.S. immigration law and the rulings of U.S. immigration judges.”
This matter was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Assistance also was provided by United States Citizen and Immigration Services. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen W. Fitzgibbon.
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Franklin Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Escape and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Brian Sanborn, 54, of Franklin, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to attempted escape and witness tampering.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 14, 2018, Sanborn called his girlfriend from the Strafford County House of Corrections. At the time, Sanborn was detained having been indicted on federal charges related to the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. Sanborn was scheduled to go to federal court the next day, May 15, 2018, to change his plea. During the recorded phone call, Sanborn instructed his girlfriend to call his mother and to follow the transport van to and from Strafford on May 15 because “something might fall out of that . . . van and you might need to pick something up.”
On May 15, 2018, after pleading guilty to distributing methamphetamine and while being transported back to the Strafford County House of Corrections, Sanborn attempted to escape the transport van by prying open the door to the cage inside the van with a six-inch piece of metal that he had smuggled into the van. Sanborn’s actions were recorded on video cameras in the van and the deputies transporting Sanborn apprehended him before he could flee. Sanborn called his mother the next day and said, in a recorded phone call, that he “fell out of the back of the van and will probably be facing escape charges.”
Another inmate was in the transport van with Sanborn when he attempted to escape. At Strafford, Sanborn sent the inmate a note that said that Sanborn knew his name and knew that the inmate had a girlfriend and child. In the note, Sanborn also offered to pay the inmate to keep quiet about what he saw in the van. The inmate informed Sanborn that he was not interested in Sanborn’s help and wanted nothing to do with the situation. After this, other inmate associates of Sanborn began to harass the inmate and told him, among other things, that he was a “rat” and threatened to beat him up or kill him.
Sanborn pleaded guilty to attempted escape and witness tampering. He will be sentenced on June 5, 2019.
This matter was investigated by the Strafford County Sherriff’s Office and the United States Marshals Service. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Participating in Fentanyl Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD - David Fagan, 32, of Manchester, was sentenced to 70 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, as a result of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that on March 6, 2018, Fagan intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Lawrence, Massachusetts to purchase drugs. Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction and observed the defendant’s vehicle arrive. The vehicle left Massachusetts and agents followed it directly to Nashua, New Hampshire, where they stopped the vehicle. Officers later received a search warrant and recovered approximately one gram of suspected fentanyl in the car.
On March 29, 2018, agents learned that Fagan again intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Lawrence to purchase drugs. Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction. Investigators passed on information to the New Hampshire State Police.
A trooper later stopped the vehicle heading northbound on I-93. The trooper identified the driver as the registered owner of the car and Fagan as the sole passenger. The officer spoke to both individuals and obtained consent to search the vehicle. The trooper located approximately 50 grams of fentanyl under the hood of the car inside the air filter.
The investigation revealed that from February 23, 2018, through April 2018, Fagan ordered and purchased 1050 grams of fentanyl.
Fagan previously pleaded guilty on September 26, 2018.
“Drug traffickers who choose to bring fentanyl into New Hampshire should understand that they will face justice in federal court,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “As is apparent from this case, serious prison time awaits those who trade in this lethal substance. Law enforcement agencies at every level of government have made it a top priority to stop the flow of fentanyl.”
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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Manchester Man Sentenced to 85 Months in Prison for Fentanyl TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Alvaro Garcia, 30, of Manchester, was sentenced to 85 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.
According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendant participated with three co-defendants in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire. On several occasions, the defendant met in Nashua with his co-defendant suppliers from Massachusetts to obtain drugs that he then distributed in the Manchester area. The conspiracy involved in excess of 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl.
All of Garcia’s co-defendants also have been convicted. Migdalia Cintron was sentenced to 30 months in prison. Ramon Paniagua Perez was sentenced to 52 months in prison. David Alexander Arias was sentenced to 41 months in prison.
Alvaro Garcia previously pleaded guilty on August 30, 2018.
“Fentanyl traffickers who choose to operate in New Hampshire should expect to be arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We are committed to working closely with enforcement agencies at all levels of government to end the distribution of this deadly drug. This case is a testament to the effectiveness of coordinated law enforcement efforts.”
“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Garcia accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.”
This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police, the Manchester Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the United States Marshals Service, and the United States Probation Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Aframe.
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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