District of New Hampshire

            CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Steven Moore, 36, and Samantha Merrifield, 35, both of Plymouth, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

           Court filings and statements made in court established that Moore and Merrifield arranged to sell approximately 50 grams of fentanyl to an undercover police officer on October 10, 2018.

           Moore and Merrifield will be sentenced on March 27, 2019.           

          “Fentanyl distribution is a problem throughout the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will remain vigilant to ensure that law enforcement confronts drug dealers wherever they choose to engage in their illegal and dangerous trade.”

          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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          Concord – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Joshua Smith, 31, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, 2019.  Smith faces a mandatory minimum sentence of fifteen years of imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life, a fine up to 10 million dollars and a term of supervised release of at least five years and as much as life.

          Thirty-three additional defendants have been charged in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

          “Fentanyl trafficking makes a deadly substance available for purchase in this State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “It is imperative that we dismantle the criminal organizations that profit from the sale of illegal substances.  In order to stop the devastation caused by their activities, we will continue to work closely with the entire law enforcement community to arrest and prosecute traffickers.”

        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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          Concord - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that a federal jury found Christopher Clough, 44, of Dover, New Hampshire guilty of participating in a scheme in which he received kickbacks in exchange for prescribing a powerful fentanyl spray to patients in violation of federal law.   

          According to testimony during the trial, which began on December 11, 2018, Clough worked as a physician assistant in New Hampshire.  After being approached by a representative of a drug manufacturer in June of 2013, he became a frequent prescriber of a fentanyl spray that had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat breakthrough cancer pain.  From approximately June of 2013 through the fall of 2014, Clough wrote more than 750 prescriptions for the fentanyl spray in New Hampshire, including more than 225 prescriptions for Medicare patients.  The Medicare program paid over $2.1 million for these prescriptions.

          Trial testimony demonstrated that during the time he was writing these prescriptions, the manufacturer of the drug paid Clough to serve as a speaker at more than 40 programs at a rate of approximately $1,000 per event.   In many instances, the programs were merely sham events where Clough was paid to have dinner with employees or representatives of the pharmaceutical company.  During most dinner programs, Clough did not give any kind of presentation about the drug.  Clough and others often forged signatures of attendees on sign-in sheets in an effort to make the dinners appear to be legitimate.  Evidence at trial demonstrated that Clough received over $49,000 in payments from the drug manufacturer.

          Testimony at the trial also showed that Clough often prescribed the drug for patients who did not have breakthrough cancer pain.  He often started patients on high doses of the addictive fentanyl spray and rebuffed patients and their family members who stated that they no longer wanted the drug.

          Clough was convicted of one count of conspiracy and seven counts of receipt of kickbacks in relation to a federal healthcare program.  He faces up to five years in prison on each count of conviction when he is sentenced on March 29, 2019.

          “Health care providers should make their treatment decisions based upon the needs of their patients, not their desire to pad their wallets,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Corporate money should not be allowed to influence a patient’s medical decisions, especially when it comes to prescriptions for a powerful opioid drug like fentanyl.  When providers are influenced by kickbacks, this can have tremendously bad consequences for patients.  I thank the jury for thoughtfully reviewing the evidence and rendering this important verdict that shows that corruption in the health care field will not be tolerated.”

           “Today’s verdict reinforces the FBI’s commitment to making sure that patients receive, and the government pays for, health care that is not compromised by kickbacks,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.  “What Mr. Clough is accused of doing in this case—receiving kickbacks in exchange for prescribing a powerful fentanyl spray—not only violated federal law but put patients at risk and contributed to the opioid crisis. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to do everything we can to root out those who place profit before patient safety.”

          “New Hampshire is in the midst of a devastating opioid crisis, as deaths from fentanyl soar. Clough prescribed a highly addictive form of fentanyl based on kickback payments not on the needs of his patients,” said Phillip M. Coyne, Special Agent in Charge for the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “His conduct has played a significant role in damaging our community and he will now pay the price.”

         “The reckless action by this former physician assistant was not only a crime but a betrayal of the public trust,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Today’s verdict not only holds Mr. Clough accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those individuals who are fueling the opioid crisis in order to profit and destroy people’s lives.  DEA’s obligation is to improve public safety and public health, and we are committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that rules and regulations are followed.”

          This matter was jointly investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Diversion Control Division.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles L. Rombeau and Seth R. Aframe.

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          CONCORD, N.H.  Jichun Zhang, 46, of Durham, pleaded guilty today to 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 will be sentenced on March 27, 2019.

          “The conduct involved in this case is particularly serious because it involved a professional educator who stole money that should have been used to pursue the important scientific goals of the federal grants,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “I want to thank the University of New Hampshire and the University System of New Hampshire.  Their immediate response and sustained cooperation with law enforcement demonstrated a forceful determination to protect the integrity of the federal grant process.”

          “I am grateful for the daily due diligence of the University of New Hampshire and University System employees who alerted the police to this criminal activity.” said UNH Police Chief Paul H Dean. “The complex joint investigation was a success due to the strong collaboration of federal and campus law enforcement and I believe it sends a clear message to anyone contemplating similar criminal activity in the research community.” 

          “Mr. Zhang has now accepted responsibility for misusing taxpayer money that was entrusted to him to pay for expenses covered by federal research grants. Not only did he mishandle those funds for his own personal gain, but he betrayed the trust of his colleagues at the University,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify others like Mr. Zhang who fraudulently misuse government money for their own self-enrichment.”

         “This investigation exposed an individual that used federal funds to advance his own personal gain,” said Curtis W. Vaughn, Special Agent in Charge, of the Office of Investigations of NASA’s Office of Inspector General.  “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.”

          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 is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella.

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          CONCORD, N.H. - Ariel Mendoza, 26, a citizen of Dominican Republic, pleaded guilty today to theft of mail and 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 March 2018, several residents of Salem and Manchester, New Hampshire, as well as residents of Lawrence, Massachusetts reported to their local police departments that they had used public mailboxes to mail personal checks or money orders that never were received by 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 captured images of Mendoza and another person as they stole items of from the mailbox.

          In addition, from November 2017 to May 2018, Mendoza and others deposited over $27,000 in stolen checks and money orders to accounts at banks and credit unions in New Hampshire.  After each deposit, Mendoza and the other conspirators obtained the proceeds of the stolen checks by withdrawing cash at ATMs and performing debit card transactions.

          Mendoza will be sentenced on March 29, 2019.  After he completes that sentence, Mendoza faces likely deportation to the Dominican Republic.

          “Crimes such as bank fraud cause financial damage to innocent victims and cannot be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “The theft of mail undermines public confidence in a critical governmental service and must be addressed by aggressive investigation and prosecution.  I want to thank the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Police Departments in Salem, Manchester, and Lawrence.  Their prompt response and thorough investigation of these serious crimes should deter other people from engaging in similar conduct.”

          “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service takes mail theft very seriously,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division.  “Our customers expect their personal information to be kept secure when mailing with the U.S. Postal Service.  Postal Inspectors, along with our local police departments who assisted in this investigation, worked hard to prevent more people from becoming further victimized by this scheme.  These types of crimes cause considerable financial damage and personal inconvenience.”

          The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Salem Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, and the Lawrence, Massachusetts Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kinsella.

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          CONCORD, N.H. – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Marc Beaulieu, 31, of Caribou, Maine, was sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison for robbing a credit union in Somersworth, New Hampshire.

          According to documents filed with the court and statements made in court, Beaulieu entered the Service Credit Union in Somersworth on November 18, 2016, approached a teller, and handed the teller a note that stated “Give me all your money and no one will get hurt.”  The teller gave Beaulieu a sum of money that included a packet of bait bills.  Beaulieu was wearing a camouflage jacket, dark hat, khaki pants, and bright red or orange sneakers.  Surveillance film captured Beaulieu fleeing the bank and entering a Subaru.

          After law enforcement released an image of the bank robber to the media, numerous individuals contacted the police and identified the robber as Beaulieu.  Police also obtained video from a convenience store near the credit union that captured Beaulieu in the Subaru and putting on the camouflage jacket.  Beaulieu was arrested in Portsmouth on November 21, 2016, and the camouflage jacket, the sneakers, and other evidence connecting him to the robbery were recovered.

          Beaulieu previously pleaded guilty on April 27, 2018.

          “Robberies and other violent crimes present a substantial threat to public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect our community, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to arrest, prosecute, and incarcerate those who commit these dangerous crimes.”

        The Somersworth Police Department led the investigation of the case with the assistance of the Portsmouth Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, and the Strafford County Department of Corrections.  The Federal Bureau of Investigation also provided assistance.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald A. Feith.

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          CONCORD, N.H. – Alicia Morin, 31, of Northfield, New Hampshire, was sentenced on Monday to serve 37 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today. 

          According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included wiretaps of certain telephones, investigators learned that on March 9, 2018, Morin intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Massachusetts to purchase fentanyl.  Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction and observed a hand-to-hand exchange between a known drug trafficker and the front right seat passenger of the vehicle. The vehicle left Massachusetts and agents followed it directly to New Hampshire.  A New Hampshire State Trooper stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and identified Morin as the front seat passenger.  Approximately 31 grams of fentanyl were located in the vehicle.  Some of the fentanyl was hidden in her bra.  The investigation revealed that from February 23, 2018, and continuing through April 5, 2018, Morin ordered fentanyl on multiple occasions from the drug distributors in Massachusetts.

          Morin previously pleaded guilty on August 27, 2018.

          “The transportation of fentanyl into New Hampshire has exposed our citizens to tragic consequences” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to stop the flow of this deadly drug and protect the public, we will continue to identify, arrest and prosecute those who bring fentanyl into the Granite State. Traffickers should be aware that they face substantial prison terms if they continue with their illegal trade”. 

          “New Hampshire is in the midst of a devastating opioid crisis, as deaths from fentanyl climb,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “The DEA will continue to use every resource available to identify those, like Ms. Morin, who are contributing to the crisis.  Today’s sentence not only holds Ms. Morin accountable for her 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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          CONCORD, N.H. – Albert Gordon, 45, of Manchester, was sentenced on Monday to serve 30 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

          According to court documents and statements made in court, in the course of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included wiretaps of certain telephones, investigating agents learned that on March 7, 2018, an individual intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Massachusetts to purchase fentanyl.  Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction and observed a hand-to-hand exchange between a known drug trafficker and the driver of the car at the driver’s side window. The vehicle left Massachusetts and agents followed it directly to New Hampshire.  A New Hampshire State Trooper stopped the vehicle.  During the traffic stop, the Trooper subsequently located an orange bag containing approximately 184 grams of fentanyl.  Gordon admitted that another individual had asked him and his girlfriend to drive to Massachusetts to buy drugs and that they had agreed to do so.

          The defendant previously pleaded guilty on August 29, 2018.

          “Fentanyl is a deadly drug that continues to cause serious damage to communities throughout the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who choose to transport fentanyl into New Hampshire face serious prison terms.  Fentanyl trafficking will be prosecuted aggressively.  By targeting drug traffickers and getting fentanyl off the street, we are striving to protect the lives and safety of our citizens.”

          “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.  “This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”

          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 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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          CONCORD, N.H.  - Hailong Zhang, 46, of Nottingham pleaded guilty to 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’s 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.

          “Mr. Zhang’s conduct is particularly disturbing because the money he stole should have been used to advance important scientific research projects,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Government research funds are not intended to be used to supplement personal income.  Anyone who engages in this type of selfish criminal behavior will be prosecuted.”

          “I am grateful for the daily due diligence of the University of New Hampshire and University System employees who alerted the police to this criminal activity.” said UNH Police Chief Paul H. Dean. “The complex joint investigation was a success due to the strong collaboration of federal and campus law enforcement and I believe it sends a clear message to anyone contemplating similar criminal activity in the research community.” 

          “Mr. Zhang has now accepted responsibility for misusing taxpayer money that was entrusted to him to pay for expenses covered by federal research grants. Not only did he mishandle those funds for his own personal gain, but he betrayed the trust of his colleagues at the University,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify others like Mr. Zhang who fraudulently misuse government money for their own self-enrichment.”

          “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.”  

          Zhang will be sentenced on March 29, 2019 .

          The case was investigated by the UNH Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, Office of Inspector General, with assistance from Nottingham Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Robert M. Kinsella.

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          CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Raulin Martinez, 27, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl and in a conspiracy to launder money.

          According to court documents and statements made in court, the defendant helped lead a drug trafficking organization that sold fentanyl to customers from various New England states, including New Hampshire, from 2015 to April of 2018. The organization, which authorities allege was also led by the defendant’s brother, Sergio Martinez, used the name “Brian” to represent the drug business and sold well in excess of 36 kilograms of fentanyl from January through April of 2018. The defendant helped run the business and supervised fentanyl distributors. The defendant also assisted in collecting and counting drug proceeds, laundering that money, and sending it to relatives in the Dominican Republic. The defendant has agreed to forfeit over $81,000 and to pay a money judgment of $165,500.

          Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2019.  He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years of imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life, a fine up to 10 million dollars and a term of supervised release of at least five years and as much as life.

          Thirty-three additional defendants have been charged in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. Five have pled guilty and one, Jepherson Cabrera, has been sentenced to 156 months in prison.

          “Fentanyl trafficking has caused tremendous damage in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect the citizens of the Granite State, we are working closely with the entire law enforcement community to stop the flow of this deadly drug into our state.  It is imperative that we dismantle the criminal organizations that have been profiting from the sale of fentanyl and other deadly drugs in New Hampshire.”

         This investigation was conducted by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.

          The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.

          The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky and Seth R. Aframe.

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          CONCORD – Migdalia Cintron-Morales, 38, of Lawrence, Massachusetts was sentenced on Thursday to serve 30 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 into New Hampshire. On several occasions, the defendant and a co-defendant traveled into New Hampshire to meet a New Hampshire distributor to provide that individual with fentanyl to redistribute in and around the Manchester, New Hampshire area. The conspiracy involved in excess of 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl.

          Co-defendant David Alexander Arias was sentenced to 41 months. Other co-defendants, Alvaro Garcia and Ramon Paniagua Perez, have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.  

          Cintron-Morales previously pleaded guilty on August 27, 2018.

          “Fentanyl trafficking has made a lethal substance available in the Granite State” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Overall, the results have been catastrophic for drug users and their families. In order to curtail trafficking, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug dealers who are bringing fentanyl and other deadly drugs into 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.  “Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals coming from out of state who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl to the citizens of the Granite State need to be held accountable for their actions.  This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”

          This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Aframe.

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          CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Jared Ortega-Peguero, 26, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty on Thursday to participating in a conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl.

          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.  On numerous days, Ortega-Peguero sold at least one 200-gram bag of fentanyl.

          Ortega-Peguero is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2018.  He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years of imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life, a fine up to 10 million dollars and a term of supervised release of at least five years and as much as life.

          Thirty-three additional defendants have been charged in the fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

          “Fentanyl trafficking has caused tremendous damage in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect the citizens of the Granite State, we will continue to work closely with the entire law enforcement community to stop the flow of this deadly drug in our state. It is imperative that we dismantle the criminal organizations that profit from the sale of illegal substances.”

         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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          CONCORD - David Frediani, 28, of Epsom, was sentenced to 150 months in prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

          According to court documents and statements made in court, the investigation began when the defendant sold fentanyl to a cooperating individual. In September of 2017, police executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence and found four firearms, ammunition, over 511 grams of fentanyl, and approximately $24,000. Because of a prior felony conviction, Frediani is prohibited from possessing firearms.

          The defendant previously pleaded guilty on January 18, 2018.

          “Drug trafficking and firearms are a potentially deadly combination,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Drug traffickers who possess firearms should understand that they will be prosecuted aggressively.  I am grateful to the State Police for the work, which removed a substantial quantity of fentanyl and four firearms from the streets.”

          This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana Konesky.

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          CONCORD - Nathaniel Carr, 24, of Concord, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.

          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 and 31 rounds of .38 caliber ammunition in a safe; a .380 caliber pistol and 30 rounds .380 caliber ammunition in a backpack; and a .12 gauge shotgun shell in Carr’s bedroom. 

          Carr will be sentenced on March 13, 2019.

          “Keeping guns out of the hands of criminals is necessary in order to keep our community safe,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to reduce violent crime, we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate criminals who possess firearms.”

          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 is prosecuting the case.

          The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.

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       CONCORD, N.H. - Joseph C.  Callahan, 36, of Belmont, New Hampshire, was sentenced in federal court to 9 years in federal prison for possessing over five grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

          According to court documents and statements made in court, on July 31, 2017, the Belknap County Special Operations Group executed search warrants at Callahan's residence on Arlene Drive in Belmont.  Callahan was arrested at the scene.  The searches uncovered approximately 24 grams of actual methamphetamine, suboxone, digital scales, and more than $13,000 in cash.  Also recovered at the residence were three stolen firearms.

          Callahan previously pleaded guilty on August 30, 2018.

          “Even in the midst of the opioid crisis, methamphetamine presents a very serious threat to the safety of our community,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “We will continue to work each day with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute, and incarcerate those who are distributing this very dangerous drug.”               

          “DEA is committed to bringing to justice those that distribute methamphetamine,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Today’s substantial sentence not only holds Mr. Callahan 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 highly addictive drug off the streets of New Hampshire.”

          This matter was investigated by the Belknap County Sheriff's Department, Belmont Police Department, Alton Police Department, Tilton Police Department, Nevada Highway Patrol, Drug Enforcement Administration, and U.S. Marshals Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.           

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          CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Richard Silvestri, 49, of Seabrook, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 50 years in federal prison for producing child pornography.

          According to documents filed in the case and statements made at the sentencing hearing, sometime before December 13, 2017, Silvestri produced visual depictions of an eight-year-old minor female engaging in sexually explicit activity.  Silvestri used a Samsung cellular phone to produce the images and he shared those images with others.  An undercover agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation based in Alaska discovered Silvestri’s activities and sent an investigative lead to the Bedford, New Hampshire FBI office.  FBI agents obtained a criminal complaint charging Silvestri with producing child pornography and arrested him on December 13, 2017.

          Silvestri pleaded guilty to two counts of producing child pornography on June 15, 2018.

          “Protecting children from harm is one of the highest duties of law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who abuse children by producing child pornography cause grave harm to their victims and to our community.  We will always be aggressive in our efforts to identify and prosecute those who rob children of their innocence by producing child pornography.”

          "Mr. Silvestri repeatedly abused an innocent child, and with this sentence, he's finally being held accountable for his detestable actions.  The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to do everything we can to protect our children from individuals who prey on our most vulnerable,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

          The FBI and the Seabrook Police Department participated in the investigation of this case.  Staff from the Rockingham County Child Advocacy Center also assisted in the case.  Assistant United States Attorneys Donald A. Feith and Helen White Fitzgibbon prosecuted the case.

          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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          CONCORD - Armelle Chester, 26, of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced in federal court on Friday to serve to two years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

          According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2018, in Nashua, New Hampshire, Chester conspired with co-defendants Everton Ellis and Jeffrey Martin (both of whom have entered guilty pleas) to use stolen identities to defraud the Sprint Corporation.  Members of the conspiracy contacted Sprint to establish new accounts in the stolen names, causing Sprint to ship thousands of dollars’ worth of iPads and iPhones on credit.  The defendants then intercepting the goods in New Hampshire.  As part of the scheme, the defendants obtained and possessed without authority the names and other personal identifiers of nearly 200 residents or former residents of New Hampshire. 

          Chester previously pleaded guilty on July 16, 2018.  In addition to the prison sentenced, Chester was ordered to pay $123,939.09 in restitution.

          “Identity theft is a crime that causes real financial damage to its victims,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.   “I am grateful to the law enforcement officers whose hard work stopped this scheme and prevented further losses.”

          “The United States Secret Service is committed to investigating financial crimes including the unauthorized use of personally identifiable information (PII) for financial gain,” said Timothy Benitez, Resident Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service, Manchester Resident Office.  “The success of this investigation is a result of the cooperation between federal and local law enforcement partners.”

          “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to preserving the integrity of the U.S. Mail.  We will continue to conduct investigations that seek prosecution of those who fraudulently use the U.S. Mail by working with our federal and local law enforcement partners.”  U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division.

This matter was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the Nashua Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John S. Davis.

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          CONCORD- Darrell Self, 44, of Springfield, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of heroin with intent to distribute, 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, 2019.

          “Drug trafficking continues to do tremendous damage to communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Dealers who distribute deadly drugs in the Granite State will be arrested and prosecuted aggressively.  I commend the New Hampshire State Troopers whose work led to the arrest and prosecution of this heroin trafficker.”

          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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          Concord – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Jepherson Emanuel Cabrera, 18, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 150 months in prison and Juan Rafael Tejada-Jiminez, 28, of Lawrence, Massachusetts pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl.

          According to court documents and statements made in court, a drug trafficking organization that authorities allege was led by Sergio Martinez, employed Cabrera, Tejada-Jiminez, 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.

         Tejada-Jiminez is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2019.  Cabrera previously pleaded guilty on August 21, 2018.

         “Fentanyl trafficking continues to pose an immediate threat to the lives and safety of the citizens of New Hampshire” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Blocking the introduction of this lethal substance into our state is a top priority of federal law enforcement. Those who choose to distribute fentanyl in the Granite State should understand that they will be arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated.”

          “Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Those who distribute fentanyl are endangering the safety of the citizens of New Hampshire.  This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, county and state law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

         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 Criminal Investigation Division; 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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          CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Jose R. Almonte-Tejeda, 40, formerly of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for possessing over 500 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute.

          According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 27, 2018, the New Hampshire State Police’s Mobile Enforcement Team conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Almonte-Tejeda on I-95 in the area of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 832 grams of cocaine from Almonte-Tejeda’s vehicle.

          Almonte-Tejeda previously pled guilty on August 23, 2018. 

          “We are committed to stopping the flow of illegal drugs into New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect the health and safety of our community, we will continue to work closely with New Hampshire State Police, DEA and all of our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are bringing dangerous drugs into 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. Almonte-Tejeda accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning that DEA and its local, state, and federal law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to keep this drug off the streets of New Hampshire.”

          This investigation was conducted by the New Hampshire State Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis is prosecuting the case.

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           CONCORD- Blake Ruggiero, 44, of Salem, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to tax fraud, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

           According to court documents and statements made in court, since 1994, the defendant has owned and operated Romano’s Pizza in Salem, New Hampshire. 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2019.

          "All citizens have an obligation to comply with the federal tax laws,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “When business owners fraudulently avoid their tax obligations, they violate federal law and face potential federal prosecution.” 

          "Business owners have a responsibility to withhold income taxes for their employees and then remit those taxes to the IRS," said Kristina O’Connell, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Boston Field Office.  "The failure to pay over withholding taxes is a serious offense.  Employment tax fraud can also impact employees, who may see future Social Security and Medicare benefits reduced or eliminated due to their employers’ criminal conduct."

          This matter was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Aframe.           

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          CONCORD – David Alexander Arias, 31, a Lawrence, Massachusetts resident, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for 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 into New Hampshire. On several occasions, the defendant and a co-defendant traveled into Nashua and Salem, New Hampshire to meet a New Hampshire distributor to provide that individual with fentanyl to redistribute in and around the Manchester, New Hampshire area.  The conspiracy involved in excess of 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl.

            Co-defendants Migdalia Cintron, Alvaro Garcia and Ramon Paniagua Perez have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.  Arias previously pled guilty on August 15, 2018.

            “Fentanyl trafficking makes a lethal substance immediately available for purchase in this state” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Overall, the results have been catastrophic for drug users and their families. In order to curtail trafficking, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug dealers who do business here.”              

            “DEA is committed to investigating Drug Trafficking Organizations and individuals like Mr. Arias who are responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Let this sentence be a warning to those traffickers who 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, county, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes deadly drugs.”

          This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Aframe.

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          CONCORD- Jason Sfara, 44, of Concord, pleaded guilty in federal court to 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2019.

          “Fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine are lethal substances whose distribution in New Hampshire endangers the general public as well as police officers,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Accordingly, we are coordinating our efforts with our law enforcement partners to target dealers and get them off the streets.”

          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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          CONCORD - Michael Bean, 33, of Loudon, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy 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, New Hampshire, 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 from Espejo to be delivered to Waters that contained one pound of pure methamphetamine.     

          Bean is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2019.

          Waters and Espejo previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. 

          “Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that is appearing in New Hampshire with increasing frequency” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Because of this drug’s great potential for causing harm to our community, we will aggressively prosecute dealers. Thanks to the hard work of the law enforcement officers in this case, this substantial methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy has been dismantled.” 

          “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has no interest in being the unwitting accomplice to anyone using the U.S. Mail to distribute illegal narcotics such as methamphetamine,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division. “We will work diligently to identify and remove illegal drug shipments and their proceeds from the mail.”

          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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            CONCORD – Lucas MacLean, 27, formerly of Unity, was sentenced to serve 51 months in prison for federal firearms crimes, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

           According to court documents and statements made in court, MacLean induced Jacob Perra, 28, of Goshen to purchase a handgun for him from a firearms dealer in New Hampshire on April 30, 2014.  MacLean financed the purchase and later took possession of the gun.  Maclean was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

            MacLean pleaded guilty on July 27, 2018. 

            Perra previously was convicted for his role in the offense.

            “Federal firearms laws are designed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to reduce violent crime, those laws must be strictly enforced. We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who obtain firearms illegally, as well as those who help felons to obtain guns.”

            This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Newport Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Arnold H. Huftalen.

            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 - Angelina Keenan, 24, formerly of Salem, New Hampshire, was sentenced to five months in federal prison for illegally purchasing firearms for a Massachusetts resident, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, on two occasions in December 2016, Keenan purchased guns from federally licensed firearms dealers in Hooksett and Pelham. During each purchase, Keenan filled out an ATF Form 4473, a form that all federally licensed firearms dealers are legally required to complete for over-the-counter firearms sales.  In filling out the form, Keenan falsely stated that she was purchasing the firearms for herself, when in fact, she was purchasing the guns for a Massachusetts man who could not legally purchase them for himself in New Hampshire.  In addition, Keenan represented on the purchase forms that she was not an unlawful drug user, when in fact she was addicted to heroin. 

            Keenan previously pleaded guilty on August 1, 2018 to two counts of making a material false statement in connection with the acquisition of a firearm. 

            “In order to safeguard the public, it is imperative to ensure that guns do not fall into the wrong hands,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Straw purchasing of firearms is a serious crime that often makes guns available to drug dealers or violent criminals.  We will continue to aggressively enforce federal gun laws in order to prevent drug traffickers from arming themselves and reduce the occurrence of violent crime.”

            This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shane B. Kelbley and Anna Z. 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 – Joseph Buenviaje, 53, of Berlin, New Hampshire, was arrested and appeared in federal court today on charges of bribery of a public official and providing contraband in prison, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray and Guido Modano, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General’s New York Field Office announced.

            According to court documents, Buenviaje, while employed as a Chaplain at the Federal Correctional Institution in Berlin, New Hampshire, provided cellular telephones, tobacco, marijuana, Suboxone, and other contraband to inmates, in exchange for money.  During a search of Buenviaje’s office at FCI Berlin, investigators seized Suboxone strips, tobacco, and over $5,000 in proceeds.

            “Public employees are expected to act with integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “We will always be alert to instances of criminal misconduct by federal employees.  In order to ensure that the public has confidence in its public servants, federal employees who violate the public trust by breaking the law will be investigated and prosecuted.”

            This U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General investigated the case, with support from FCI Berlin’s Office of the Special Investigative Supervisor.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski.

            A federal criminal complaint is only an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

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           CONCORD, N.H. – David Laughton, 53, of Merrimack, was sentenced on Tuesday to twelve months of home detention and three years of probation for theft of public money, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.

           According to court documents and statements made in court, at the time of her death in June 2005, Laughton’s mother was receiving widow’s benefits from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) and federal pension benefits from the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”).  After her death, SSA and PBGC continued to deposit these monthly benefits into her bank account.  Although he was not an account holder, Laughton gained access to his mother’s bank account and knew that SSA and PBGC made regular deposits to the account.  Laughton did not advise SSA or PBGC of his mother’s death.  Instead, for approximately a decade, he withdrew the money from his deceased mother’s bank account to pay for his own personal expenses.  As a result, Laughton obtained over $118,031 from SSA and over $54,376 from PBGC.     

            Laughton, who pleaded guilty on June 21, 2018, was ordered to pay restitution to the Social Security Administration and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

            “Social Security and pension benefits provide vital support for many individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “However, these funds should only go to those who are entitled to receive them.  Those who try to cheat the system by stealing funds from federal benefits programs are committing a serious federal crime and will be prosecuted.”

          This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.

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          CONCORD – Robert Gallagher Sr., 50, of Northfield, pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements to obtain Social Security disability insurance benefits, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, Gallagher has managed and worked as a mechanic at since 2008.  In May of 2012, Gallagher applied for disability insurance benefits and falsely claimed that he had been unable to work since January 1, 2011.  To receive disability insurance benefits, an individual must have a medical disability that prevents the claimant from performing “substantial gainful activity”—that is, work activity that is the type ordinarily done for pay or profit.  Social Security advised Gallagher that he was required to report whether he was working, regardless of his income, and that if he provided Social Security with “false information on purpose, [his] benefits will be stopped.”  However, although Gallagher was managing and working when he applied for benefits, he concealed his work activity from Social Security.  As a result, Gallagher began receiving Social Security disability insurance benefits in October of 2013.

          In December 2016, during an in-person work activity review, Gallagher again told Social Security that he had not been working.  In 2017, during an audit of Department of Motor Vehicle inspections by the New Hampshire State Police, Gallagher told the inspector that he worked approximately 47 hours per week as both a mechanic and state vehicle inspector.  Gallagher subsequently admitted to an investigator from the Office of the Inspector General, that he had worked since 2008 and that he lied to Social Security when he claimed that he was not working.  As a result of his concealment, Gallagher received Social Security disability insurance benefits that he was not entitled to receive from October 2013 through March 2017.

          Gallagher is scheduled to be sentenced on February 21, 2018.

            “Federal benefits programs provide important support for qualified individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who use fraudulent means to obtain benefits are committing a serious federal crime.  We work closely with federal agencies to ensure that federal benefits only go to those who truly deserve them.”            

                “Mr. Gallagher’s false statements allowed him to collect funds from the Social Security Administration’s Disability Trust fund that he was not entitled to,” said Scott Antolik, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General Boston Field Division.  “I hope these charges will be a warning to those who might lie to the Social Security Administration to fraudulently obtain disability benefits to the detriment of those who are truly deserving.  I thank our partners with the New Hampshire State Police for their assistance with this investigation.”

            “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to conduct investigations with our counterparts to combat fraud,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin Boston Division.  “We will seek prosecution of those individuals who choose to use the U.S. Mail to facilitate crimes like these.  Mr. Gallagher made fraudulent statements to financially gain from a system designed to support those in need.”

          This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and the New Hampshire State Police.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.

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            CONCORD - Victor Soto, 38, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of over 40 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 30, 2018, Manchester police officers acquired reliable information that the defendant would deliver 300 to 400 grams of fentanyl to Manchester later that day. The Manchester police officers shared this information with the New Hampshire State Police. On the evening of May 30, 2018, the New Hampshire State Police located defendant’s black Acura SUV driving north on I-93.  The defendant was driving alone.  The police followed the defendant to route 293 and then on to South Willow St. in Manchester, where they stopped him. During a subsequent consent search of his vehicle, the officers located approximately 394 grams of fentanyl in the trunk.   

           Soto is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2019.

            “Fentanyl continues to cause tremendous damage to communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect the lives and safety of the public, we will investigate, arrest and prosecute those who choose to distribute this deadly drug in the Granite State.  I commend the law enforcement officers whose work prevented this substantial amount of fentanyl from being sold on the streets of Manchester.”

            “We’re very pleased that our close coordination with local and state partners in New Hampshire allowed for the successful prosecution of this case,” said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent In Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. “HSI will continue to prioritize investigations to combat this deadly opioid and fentanyl epidemic.”

               This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department, New Hampshire State Police, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations.  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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            CONCORD - Zachary A. C. Benoit, 28, of Canaan, pleaded guilty in federal court to transportation and possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, in the summer of 2017, the Grafton County Sheriff’s Department was conducting an online investigation into individuals involved in the trading of illegal images of child pornography.  Benoit was identified after he uploaded numerous images of child sexual abuse, which were intercepted by law enforcement.  Forensic examinations of several of Benoit’s electronic devices revealed thousands of images and videos depicting the sexual assaults of children including babies and toddlers.

            Benoit is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2019.   He is subject to a minimum mandatory sentence of 5 years.

            “Among the most important roles of law enforcement is to protect innocent children,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “We work closely with our colleagues to investigate and prosecute crimes involving child pornography and child exploitation.  Those who commit these crimes should understand that they will be prosecuted aggressively.”

             “We are very glad to see justice done in this disturbing case,” said Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent In Charge, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Boston.  “This case would not have been successful without the critical support from our local and state partners.  Considering the repulsive nature of the crimes committed against the most innocent of victims in this case, we look forward to the sentencing phase in this investigation.”         

             This matter was investigated by the Grafton County Sheriff's Department, Lebanon Police Department, Nashua Police Department, and members of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Helen W. Fitzgibbon with assistance from the Department of Homeland Security.

            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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            CONCORD - Jessica M. Teixeira, 41, of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, was arrested and appeared in federal court today on charges of securities fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.

           According to the indictment returned on October 31, 2018, between December 2015 and November 2017, defendant Teixeira defrauded two New Hampshire investors by selling them a series of securities that were supposedly guaranteed and would generate high rates of return.  According to the indictment, 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, the indictment alleges that Teixeira's claims to be connected to high-level investment groups were false, the investment contracts and notes she sold were worthless and generated no returns, and Teixeira would simply convert the invested funds to her own personal use and benefit, without returning any of the invested funds.  In total, the defendant allegedly obtained approximately $296,250 from the two investors. 

            The Court scheduled a trial in Teixeira’s case for December 11, 2018.

            “Even as we work to combat opioid trafficking and violent crime, federal law enforcement officers strive diligently to identify and prosecute those involved in fraud schemes here in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.

             “Today’s arrest serves as a reminder that white-collar criminals often lurk behind overly aggressive high rate-of-return promises,” said Special Agent in Charge Kristina O’Connell, with IRS Criminal Investigation, Boston Field Office.  “IRS-CI is proud to bring our financial expertise to these joint investigations to help catch perpetrators and prevent future victims of high-yield investment schemes.”

            "This investigation is another example of the FBI’s efforts to protect the integrity and transparency of the financial markets. Working with our law enforcement partners, we will pursue  those who are motivated by greed and personal enrichment by defrauding investors, destroying the financial security of hard-working individuals within our communities,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

            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.

            The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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            CONCORD - United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Kyle Decologero, 24, of Lowell, Massachusetts was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 17, 2018, for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute.  

            The defendant is scheduled to appear in court on November 6, 2018.

            This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).  In July, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts.  The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the record number of overdoses and deaths related to fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. 

            In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on Hillsborough County, including Manchester and Nashua, where the highest number of overdose deaths occur.  As part of this initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will prosecute cases from Hillsborough County involving the distribution of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and other synthetic opioids, regardless of drug quantity.        

            “Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have caused grave damage in the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Through S.O.S., we will work in partnership with our federal, state, and local law enforcement colleagues, including the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office, to focus our resources on stopping fentanyl trafficking in Hillsborough County”.

            This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department, with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam T. Le.

            The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations.  A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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            CONCORD - Nicholas Walker, 29, formerly of Litchfield pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.

            According to court documents, on February 20, 2018, the Litchfield, New Hampshire Police Department received several reports that the driver of a Chevrolet car was stealing mail from residential mailboxes on Windsor Drive, Chamberlain Drive, and Duck Pond Circle in Litchfield.  Some witnesses were able to describe the driver of the car.  One witness reported several digits of the New Hampshire license plate attached to the car.  Several minutes later, a Litchfield Police Officer saw an unoccupied silver Chevrolet car with a license plate number containing several of the reported digits parked outside a gas station in Hudson, New Hampshire.

            While looking into the car, the officer saw items of mail with different addresses printed on the outside.  The defendant’s jacket and keys were on the roof of the car.  When the defendant returned to the car, he told the officer that he drove to the gas station but would not state where he had been.  The officer seized that car and obtained a warrant to search it.  While executing the search, the officer found several envelopes that were stolen from the residential mailboxes in Litchfield.

            Walker will be sentenced on February 12, 2019.

            “The public needs to be confident in the integrity of the mail,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to sustain this confidence, we will prosecute those who steal from the Postal Service.  I commend the work of the citizens and law enforcement officers in this case whose quick actions led to the arrest and prosecution of this defendant.”

            “This investigation is an example of teamwork between our customers, the Litchfield Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin, Boston Division.  “Postal Inspectors will continue to work aggressively with our law enforcement partners to combat any reports of mail theft.  The U.S. Mail remains one of the most secure means of transmitting personal information.”  

            The case was investigated by the Litchfield, New Hampshire Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert M. Kinsella.

# # #

            CONCORD – Valerie Rondeau, 59, of Effingham pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statements to obtain Social Security disability benefits, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

           According to court documents and statements made in court, Rondeau received  Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) benefits for over 16 years prior to her marriage in May 2013.  Rondeau continued to receive these benefits after she wed, but Rondeau did not report her marriage or her shared living arrangement to the Social Security Administration.  Instead, Rondeau took active steps to conceal her marriage and living arrangement.  For example, Rondeau changed her last name to that of her husband, writing in the petition “we live as a married couple.”  But, when Social Security inquired about the name change, Rondeau advised Social Security that she was not married and does not present herself as married.  Rondeau continued to conceal her marriage and living arrangement until November 2017, when she admitted to investigators that she did not obtain a marriage license or report her marriage to Social Security because she knew she could lose her disability benefits.

            Rondeau’s marriage or shared living arrangement, if properly reported, would have disqualified her from receiving benefits.  Applicants for certain disability benefits must have limited income and resources in order to qualify for assistance.  The incomes of all members of a household are considered when determining an individual’s eligibility for SSI benefits.  As a result of her concealment, Rondeau received over $37,000 in disability benefits that she was not entitled to receive.  

            Rondeau is scheduled to be sentenced on February 14, 2019.

            “Social Security and other government programs provide important income support for those who are entitled to receive benefits,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who attempt to defraud the system by lying in order to obtain benefits are committing a serious federal crime.  We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify fraudsters and protect the integrity of federal benefit programs.”

            Scott Antolik, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General’s Boston Field Division said, “Rondeau’s lies and deceitful conduct undermined the integrity of a system that provides cash assistance and health care coverage to people with low-income and limited assets who are either aged 65 or older, blind, or disabled.  I thank our partners with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and U.S. Attorney Murray for their assistance in bringing Rondeau to justice and helping to protect the safety net program that provides benefits to approximately eight million Americans each year. “

            “Today’s plea is an example of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s commitment to defend the U.S. Mail from criminal misuse,” said U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin, Boston Division. “By working with our federal law enforcement partners, we will continue to investigate and take action against those who take part in this type of behavior.”  

            This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General and the United States Postal Inspection Service.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.

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            CONCORD - Tasha Loaiza, 25, of Rochester, pleaded guilty in federal court to aiding and abetting the distribution of fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 17, 2018, Loaiza met with a cooperating individual, and directed the individual to an address in Manchester, New Hampshire. There, Loaiza introduced the cooperating individual to a third person, from whom the individual bought a quantity of fentanyl.       

            Loaiza is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2019.

            “Fentanyl trafficking is a complex criminal activity that often involves many individuals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who participate in the distribution of this deadly drug will be held accountable for their conduct.  In order to maintain public safety and the quality of life in New Hampshire, we will work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are responsible for selling fentanyl and other deadly opioids.”  

            “This case shows the seriousness the FBI places on the upward trend of opioid addiction here in New Hampshire. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, investigate, and arrest those responsible for illegally distributing synthetic opioids in our neighborhoods at the expense of the law-abiding people who live in them,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division.

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Dronzek.

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            CONCORD – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the conviction of David Ackell, 49, of Seekonk, Massachusetts, for using facilities in interstate commerce to stalk a female resident of New Hampshire, announced United States Attorney Scott W. Murray.

            Ackell was found guilty of the offense after a four-day jury trial in December 2016.  Ackell will now serve a 33-month federal prison sentence that was imposed in July of 2017.  He will serve his sentence at a facility designated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

            According to the evidence presented during the trial, Ackell sent an on-line private message to the victim when she was 16 years old.  Thereafter, the victim agreed to send photographs of herself to Ackell because Ackell repeatedly promised that he would not save them.  Several months later, Ackell persuaded the victim to send partially nude photographs of herself to him.  After the victim turned 18, she repeatedly told Ackell that she wanted to end their relationship.  Ackell prevented this from happening by, among other things, threatening to send the victim’s photographs to her family and friends.  He also told the victim that if she ended their relationship, a 14-year-old girl would be raped.

            In appealing his conviction, Ackell argued, among other things, that the federal stalking statute was a violation of the freedom of speech under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and that the evidence present by the government was insufficient.  In a unanimous decision, the First Circuit Court of Appeal rejected these arguments.  In rejecting the First Amendment claim, the Court wrote that the federal stalking statute "does not, on its face, regulate protected speech or conduct that is necessarily intertwined with speech or expression."  Pertaining to the sufficiency of the evidence against Ackell, the Court remarked that "the evidence provided a substantial basis for a rational [jury] to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt" that Ackell stalked the victim in violation of federal law.

            “I am grateful that the U.S. Court of Appeals has agreed that Ackell’s egregious conduct was a violation of federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “He will serve a well-deserved federal prison sentence.  I hope that this result provides some comfort to the victim who was stalked by this defendant.”

            "Mr. Ackell used the internet to exploit, threaten, and extort his victim, without remorse or accountability for his actions,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.  “We'd like to thank her for her bravery and courage in coming forward to report his criminal behavior, in the hopes that other children wouldn't be exploited in the same way. The protection of our children from depraved predators, who make online threats or exploit our most vulnerable, will continue to be a top priority for the FBI."

            The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Hancock, New Hampshire Police Department, and the Seekonk, Massachusetts Police Department investigated the case.

            At trial, Assistant United States Attorneys Helen White Fitzgibbon and Robert Kinsella represented the government.  Assistant United States Attorney Seth R. Aframe represented the government in the Court of Appeals.

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            CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Tyler J. Hughes, 25, of California and formerly a Petty Officer in the United States Coast Guard stationed in Massachusetts, was sentenced to time served for making false statements during the purchase of a firearm.  Hughes also agreed to forfeit five firearms and ammunition.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on three separate occasions: January 20, 2017, October 22, 2017 and November 21, 2017, Hughes purchased a firearm from a federally licensed firearms dealer in New Hampshire.  During each purchase, Hughes completed ATF Form 4473 and falsely claimed that he lived in New Hampshire in order to purchase the firearms.  Hughes never lived in New Hampshire.

            Hughes previously pleaded guilty to three counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm on July 10, 2018.

            “As part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, we work with our law enforcement partners to enforce our nation’s gun laws,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “By enforcing our gun laws and taking other steps to prevent violent crime, we will improve public safety for all of our citizens.”

            The matter was investigated by the United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, the New Hampshire State Police DMV Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Debra M. Walsh 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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CONCORD, N.H. – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray and New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald announced today that both the United States Attorney’s Office and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office will staff voting inquiry and complaint lines at their respective offices throughout the day and evening on Election Day, November 6, 2018.

            The New Hampshire Attorney General’s toll free election line phone number is:

1-866-868-3703
(1-866-VOTER03)

            This phone line will be staffed from 6 am to 9 pm on Election Day. Inquiries and complaints may also be submitted via e-mail at [email protected].

            The United States Attorney’s election line phone number is:

(603) 230-2532

            This phone line will also be staffed from 7 am to 8 pm on Election Day. Inquiries and complaints may also be submitted through the United States Attorney’s Web site at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nh by clicking on the “e-mail us” link. A Federal Election Fraud Fact Sheet that explains what triggers federal criminal jurisdiction in connection with elections and voting rights can also be found on the United States Attorney’s Web site, www.justice.gov/usao-nh.

            The state and federal election lines are available to all individuals who may have questions regarding their voting rights or who want to file complaints with the New Hampshire Attorney General or the United States Attorney regarding their right to vote or any other election law violation.

            For further information, please contact Assistant Attorney General Matthew Broadhead at the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office at (603) 271-3650, or Assistant United States Attorney Seth R. Aframe at (603) 230-2532.

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            CONCORD - Grency Junior Nunez Barrera, 32, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to aggravated identity theft, social security fraud, and making false statements, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, Nunez Barrera illegally entered the United States in 2009 and obtained identification documents of an American citizen from Puerto Rico, including a forged birth certificate and social security card.  From 2009 through 2018, Nunez Barrera assumed that person’s identity.  During that time, among other things, Nunez Barrera worked and was charged with other crimes using the victim’s identity.  In 2010, Nunez Barrera used the victim’s identity to obtain a New Hampshire driver’s license.  He later used the victim’s information to obtain a social security number.   

            In 2015, Nunez Barrera was arrested while using the victim’s identity to renew the New Hampshire driver’s license he obtained in 2010.  In February 2018, Nunez Barrera again traveled to the Division of Motor Vehicles in Concord, New Hampshire and applied for a replacement driver’s license using the victim’s name, date of birth, and social security number.  The DMV flagged the application and Nunez Barrera was subsequently arrested.  Upon his arrest for federal charges, Nunez Barrera again falsely identified himself as the victim to the U.S. Marshals and, as proof, provided the victim’s social security number.

            Nunez Barrera is scheduled to be sentenced on February 11, 2019.   He faces possible deportation to the Dominican Republic following the completion of his sentence.

            “Identity theft is a serious crime that can cause substantial harm to its victims,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “It can often be very challenging for victims of identity theft and clear up financial or criminal issues that result from this crime.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who commit identity theft or obtain false identification documents.”

            Scott Antolik, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Boston Field Division for the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General said, “Nunez Barrera misused the social security number of an innocent person and caused that individual considerable damage.  I thank the New Hampshire State Police and the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement, Manchester, NH Office for their assistance in bringing Barrera to justice and keeping our communities safe.  For more information, check out the OIG’s Identity Theft page. The Department of Justice estimates 17 million people each year become victims of identity theft.  We hope you aren’t one of them, but if you are, this information should help.” 

            This matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General, the New Hampshire State Police, and U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement.  The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter.

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            CONCORD – Luis Gardner, 41, and Heidi Langevin, 44, of Belmont, pleaded guilty in federal court on Tuesday to participating in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced.  Garner also pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, Gardner and Langevin sold fentanyl and methamphetamine to an individual who was cooperating with the FBI on two separate occasions at locations in and around New Hampshire.  On May 31, 2017, Langevin arranged for Gardner and two other men to purchase fentanyl from a supplier in Lawrence, Massachusetts.  The three men drove together from Belmont, New Hampshire to Lawrence.  In Lawrence, the men met with their drug supplier, purchased a quantity of fentanyl, and began to drive back to New Hampshire.  On the highway near Derry, New Hampshire, the New Hampshire State Police conducted a traffic stop and seized a firearm and a package containing approximately 111 grams of fentanyl.           

            Gardner and Langevin are scheduled to be sentenced on February 11, 2019.  

            “Fentanyl trafficking poses a grave danger to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “When drug dealers are armed with guns, the risk to public safety is even greater.  In order to improve public safety and enhance the quality of life in the Granite State, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute drug traffickers and violent criminals.”           

            This matter was investigated by the FBI, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Laconia Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z.  Krasinski.

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          CONCORD – Dave Bardzik, 56, of Ossipee, pleaded guilty in federal court to making false statement in violation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy devastated the Atlantic coast of the United States.  In addition to causing widespread property damage, the storm had substantial impacts on the New England fishing industry.   Pursuant to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the United States Commerce Secretary declared a fishery disaster and Congress approved fishery disaster relief funds.  Operators of both commercial and “for hire” vessels in New Hampshire were provided information on how to apply for a share of those funds.  Required criteria included that “for hire” vessels, like Bardzik’s, must have taken at least 15 trips in three of the previous four years in which at least one New England groundfish species was harvested.

          According to court documents and statements made in court, Bardzik submitted several false and/or altered records to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department in June 2015 in an attempt to qualify for the allotted funds.   Investigators immediately noted discrepancies between the June 2015 submission and the previous, contemporaneous records Bardzik had completed in 2013.  When confronted by investigators, Bardzik admitted that he created the false and/or altered records because he would otherwise not have qualified for funds. 

          Bardzik will be sentenced on February 5, 2019

          “When the federal government provides funds for disaster relief, that is not an invitation to commit fraud,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who provide false information in order to obtain disaster relief money are committing a crime.  We work closely with our law enforcement partners to ensure that benefits only go to those who are entitled to receive them.”

          This matter was investigated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement with assistance from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.    The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.

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           CONCORD, N.H. – Arthur Voutselas, 27, previously of Nashua, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for fentanyl trafficking, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, on two separate occasions in January of 2018, Voutselas sold quantities of cocaine to a cooperating individual working with law enforcement.  In February of 2018, Voutslas was arrested and found to be in possession of fentanyl and cash.  A state court judge later granted a search warrant for Voutselas’ Nashua residence, and the search yielded approximately 75 grams of fentanyl, over $10,000 in U.S. currency, and other indicia of narcotics trafficking, including a scale, ledgers and bagging materials.  Voutselas previously pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute in July of 2018.

        Voutselas forfeited $12,955 to the United States, representing proceeds of his narcotics trafficking.  Following prison, he will be on supervised release for a period of four years.

          “Stopping fentanyl trafficking is a top priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect the lives and safety of our citizens, we work closely with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute those who are responsible for selling this deadly drug.  Drug dealers should expect to face long prison terms for distributing fentanyl and other opioids.”

          “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. Voutselas 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 and the Nashua Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L Rombeau.

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          CONCORD, N.H. - Raul Vantroi Arias Ruiz, 36, of the Dominican Republic, was sentenced to 120 months in federal 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, from at least December 6, 2016, through May 2, 2017, the defendant arranged for the sale of fentanyl to customers in New Hampshire, using his co-defendant, Yossi Rafael Rincon-Ramirez, to make drug deliveries.   Four of the fentanyl sales he arranged during that time period were made to an undercover DEA agent in Nashua, New Hampshire.

          Based on these drug buys, law enforcement officers arrested the defendant at his residence in Methuen, Massachusetts on May 2, 2017.  After obtaining a search warrant for the residence, which included two adjacent apartments on the second floor of the building, law enforcement officers found approximately $941,994 in U.S. currency and two firearms, as well as approximately 90 grams of fentanyl, 20 grams of heroin, and 30 pounds of marijuana. 

            The $941,994 was forfeited to the United States in a civil forfeiture proceeding.  As part of his plea agreement, Arias Ruiz also forfeited the firearms.

          Arias Ruiz, who pleaded guilty on July 25, 2018, still faces state charges in Massachusetts related to the drugs and firearms seized from the Methuen residence.  He is likely to be deported to the Dominican Republic after serving his sentence.

          On April 23, 2018, Rincon-Ramirez pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and four counts of distribution of a controlled substance.  Rincon-Ramirez was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison on August 23, 2018. 

          “Trafficking in fentanyl has caused great damage to the citizens of our state,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to stop the distribution of this deadly drug and protect the public, we will seek substantial prison sentences for those who profit from its sale.  By working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to investigate, arrest and prosecute traffickers, we will improve public safety in the Granite State.”

            “Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives,” 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.”

           This matter was investigated by the DEA, with the assistance of the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, and the police departments of Hudson, NH, Nashua, NH, and Methuen, MA.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Z. Krasinski prosecuted the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rabuck handled the asset forfeiture matter.

            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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          CONCORD - Donald Fillmore, 42, of Exeter, Maine, pleaded guilty in federal court to possessing over 400 grams of fentanyl with intent to distribute, 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 is scheduled to be sentenced on February 4, 2019.

          “Fentanyl trafficking exposes the citizens of our state to grave risks with regard to their health and well-being” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “I am grateful to the State Police for their work in this case, which prevented a large amount of this dangerous drug from being distributed.  By stopping drug traffickers from distributing fentanyl and other opioids, we are improving public safety and saving lives.”

            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 – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Trevor Ahearn, 28, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl.

          According to court documents and statements made in court, a drug trafficking organization employed the defendant to sell fentanyl to customers from various New England States, including New Hampshire.  On each day that the defendant worked, the 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. On more than five days, Ahearn sold at least one 200-gram bag of fentanyl.  In addition to Ahearn, 33 defendants have been charged with participating in this conspiracy.

          Ahearn is scheduled to be sentenced on January 31, 2018. 

          “Fentanyl trafficking has caused tremendous damage in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect the citizens of the Granite State, we will continue to work closely with the entire law enforcement community to stop the flow of this deadly drug. It is imperative that we dismantle the criminal organizations that profit from the sale of illegal substances.”

          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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            CONCORD - Kyle Leavy, 32, of Farmington, was sentenced to 45 months in federal prison for fentanyl trafficking charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in the fall of 2017, Leavy sold fentanyl to an individual who was cooperating with the FBI on three separate occasions at locations in and around Rochester, New Hampshire.  During the third drug deal, Leavy sold more than 40 grams of fentanyl.

            Leavy previously pleaded guilty on June 29, 2018, to three counts of methamphetamine distribution.

            “Fentanyl is a deadly drug that has caused great harm to the citizens of our state,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect our community, we are working closely with all of our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who seek to profit from selling fentanyl and other dangerous drugs.  I commend the work of the investigators in this case whose efforts stopped this drug dealer from doing business on our streets.”

            “We simply cannot and will not allow drug dealers like Mr. Leavy to peddle this poison on the streets of our cities. They’re flooding our neighborhoods with these dangerous narcotics, making themselves rich while others suffer,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division. “The FBI’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners  to stem the flow of drugs, and reduce crime.”

            This matter was investigated by the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force.  The Task Force is comprised of the FBI, the Federal Protective Service, the New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Probation and Parole, and the Police Departments of Portsmouth, Manchester, and Nashua.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.

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            CONCORD – Ruben Gomez, 34, of Lawrence, Massachusetts pleaded guilty in federal court to possession and distribution of a controlled substance 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, the defendant sold cocaine to an individual who was cooperating with law enforcement officers in Nashua, New Hampshire. On the day of his arrest, he carried a firearm with him to sell cocaine and oxycodone.

            Ruben is scheduled to be sentenced on January 28, 2019.

            “When drug traffickers carry firearms, they pose a grave risk to the general public,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect our community, we will be aggressive in prosecuting criminals who use guns.  Armed drug traffickers who choose to come into our state should understand that they will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

                This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Nashua Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.

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            CONCORD – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Gale Doiron, 61, of Nashua, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

            Court filings and statements made in court established that a cooperating individual made four controlled buys of fentanyl from Doiron and her son. Although her son ran the business, Doiron assisted by conducting exchanges with customers, and profited from the drug sales. On December 8, 2016, officers received warrants to search the defendant’s residence and a backpack possessed by her son. Officers seized approximately 79 grams of fentanyl, other controlled substances, drug packaging materials, five firearms, and over $25,000 in cash. The money and firearms have been forfeited.

            Doiron previously pled guilty on February 21, 2018.

             “Individuals who assist in the trafficking of fentanyl should expect to be arrested, prosecuted and incarcerated” said U.S. Attorney Murray. Each sale of this dangerous drug has the potential to end a human life, so each case must be treated with the utmost seriousness. I commend the work of the Nashua Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in bringing this defendant to justice.”  

            “Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives,” 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 Nashua Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.

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            CONCORD - Jose Rafael Soriano, 28, of Lynn, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty in federal court to aiding another in an illegal effort to purchase firearms, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today. 

            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 5 years imprisonment.  On March 13, 2017, Gardner was sentenced to three years’ probation.  On April 7, 2017, Aleman was sentenced to two years’ probation.

            Soriano is scheduled to be sentenced on January 29, 2019.

            “In order to keep our communities safe, we must keep guns out of the hands of criminals,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Through Project Safe Neighborhoods, we continue to identify and prosecute those who unlawfully obtain firearms.  Individuals who seek to purchase guns for felons or other prohibited persons should understand that they are committing a serious crime and that they will be prosecuted.”

            “Straw purchasing and illegal trafficking of firearms is serious crime that often puts firearms in the hands of individuals who are prohibited under federal law to possess them,” said Mickey Leadingham, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Boston Field Division.  “ATF remains dedicated to identifying, investigating and arresting these individuals and making our streets and communities safer from violent firearm related crimes.”

           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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