District of New Hampshire
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former New Hampshire Investment Banker Pleads Guilty to Defrauding Client of $2 MillionRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Karl Edward Hahn, 44, of Manchester, Connecticut and formerly of New Castle, New Hampshire pleaded guilty on Tuesday to participating in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded a victim of approximately $2 million.
According to court records and statements in court, Hahn lived in New Hampshire and was employed as an investment advisor at investment banks in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Starting as early as March of 2009 and continuing until July of 2010, he invited one of his investment clients to join him in what he referred to as an “off the books” investment. He described that investment as follows: Hahn and the victim would each contribute approximately $2 million, which Hahn would then loan to three individuals who would repay the money within 90 days with interest substantially above market rates. Hahn told the victim the “loan” would be secured by three pieces of residential real estate, one owned by each of the three borrowers, which were all unencumbered and which collectively had a value far in excess of the approximately $4 million loan.
Hahn told the victim that no one could know about the investment, including the defendant’s employer, because he was not allowed to enter into financial dealings with clients other than through his employment. In order to prevent his employer from learning of the “off the books” transaction, Hahn asked the victim to transfer the money into a bank account held by one of Hahn’s relatives and that Hahn would then get the money from his relative.
The victim agreed and transferred to Hahn’s relative’s account, in separate transactions, $300,000, $1,600,000, $100,000, and $35,000, totaling $2,035,000. Hahn admitted that the entire story of landowners wanting to borrow money was false, that there never were three landowners who wanted to borrow money collateralizing the loans with deeds, and that loans were never made to any landowners using the victim’s money. Hahn simply used the victim’s money to pay personal expenses. In 2011, the New Hampshire Bureau of Securities Regulation barred Hahn from being licensed to sell securities.
Hahn also admitted that during the course of executing the scheme, he made additional materially false representations to the victim that lulled him into a false sense of security and caused him to temporarily refrain from reporting his dealings with the defendant to law enforcement authorities. Those false statements included: 1) that the supposed borrowers had defaulted on the loans; 2) that as a result of the alleged defaults, Hahn had possession of the deeds to the supposed borrowers’ properties; and 3) that Hahn had communicated with a hedge fund so the hedge fund could buy the properties, thereby resulting in the return of the victim’s money with interest. Hahn also later falsely represented to the victim that he had been successful in working with the supposed hedge fund and that he was confident that the victim would have his money back by early August of 2010.
Hahn will be sentenced on November 8, 2017. The terms of the plea require Hahn to serve 18 months in federal prison.
This case was investigated by the FBI and United States Secret Service and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold H. Huftalen.
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Candia Man Convicted of Heroin Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that a jury found Mark Gagnon, 54, of Candia, New Hampshire guilty of possessing heroin with the intent to distribute.
Testimony elicited at trial showed that during an ongoing wiretap investigation, investigators learned that on July 10, 2016, Gagnon and another person traveled from Manchester, New Hampshire to Lawrence, Massachusetts to pick up 50 fingers (approximately 500 grams) of heroin from a drug trafficking organization led by Alberto Guerrero Marte. Gagnon and his confederate met with Marte at a restaurant in Lawrence at approximately 10:00 p.m. on July 10, 2016. Gagnon retrieved a shopping bag containing three cans of tomato sauce from Marte’s vehicle. Gagnon placed the cans in his own vehicle and drove to New Hampshire. During a traffic stop of Gagnon’s vehicle, a drug detection dog alerted that the vehicle contained drugs. A search warrant was executed on the vehicle on July 11, 2016. Law enforcement officers opened the three cans of tomato sauce and found 51 fingers of heroin, weighing a little over 500 grams.
Gagnon will be sentenced on November 17, 2017. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
“We are dedicated to working with all of our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of heroin and other dangerous drugs into the Granite State,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “While those who suffer from addiction need to have access to treatment, those who seek to profit from the distribution of heroin will be held accountable for their actions. I commend the hard work of the law enforcement officers in this case. Their industriousness led to the seizure of a very significant amount of heroin before it could be sold on the streets of New Hampshire.”
"Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in New Hampshire," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. "Heroin and fentanyl are causing overdose deaths across the Granite State in record numbers, and DEA is committed to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes these poisons in order to profit and destroy people's lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal partners and our strong relationship with the U.S. Attorney's Office."
This investigation was the product of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. This investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and also involved the following law enforcement agencies: Homeland Security Investigations; the Massachusetts State Police; the Haverhill Police Department; the United States Marshals Service; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; the Lawrence Police Department; the Lowell Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.
Rochester Area Men Plead Guilty to Drug Trafficking ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley today announced that
two men from the Rochester, New Hampshire area pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges based upon their possession of heroin and cocaine. Timothy W. Kondroski, 42, previously of Rochester and Jason L. Brewer, 34, of Milton each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
According to court documents and statements made during today’s plea hearings, on July 12, 2016, a New Hampshire State Police Trooper observed Brewer commit multiple motor vehicle violations while driving northbound on Interstate 95. The trooper executed a traffic stop of Brewer’s car near the Hampton tolls. Kondroski was a passenger in the car. During the traffic stop, the trooper observed evidence of drug possession. While the trooper questioned Brewer and Kondroski, Kondroski fled and darted across four lanes of the interstate highway toward the barriers that divided the cash tolls from the open road tolling lanes. The trooper chased Kondroski, yelling at him to stop. The trooper eventually caught up to Kondroski at the barriers, which Kondroski was attempting to climb over. The application of a Taser was necessary to subdue Kondroski. During the chase, Kondroski’s sneakers fell off. When retrieving them from the roadway, the troopers found a bag approximately 35 grams of heroin. A second bag containing approximately one ounce of cocaine was recovered from inside one of Kondroski’s sneakers. Kondroski and Brewer both eventually admitted to buying the drugs in Lawerence, Massachusetts. Kondroski further acknowledged that he paid $2700 for the drugs and intended to sell them.
Kondroski and Brewer are both scheduled to be sentenced on November 28, 2017.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are distributing drugs in the Granite State,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “I commend the troopers involved in this matter for their quick and decisive actions.”
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Morse.
Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Robbing Three Banks Including One in RindgeRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley today announced that Vincent Torraco, 26, of Athol, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to three bank robberies, including one in Rindge, New Hampshire.
According to court documents and statements made during Torraco’s plea hearing, Torraco robbed TD bank branches in Gardner, Massachusetts, on September 16, 2016, in Rindge, on September 23, 2016, and in Winchester, Connecticut, on September 24, 2016. In each robbery, Torraco passed a note to a bank teller demanding money. In at least two of the robberies, the notes included warnings not to include dye packs with the money. Torraco was identified as the robber in each instance through bank security images, which revealed distinctive clothing and physical characteristics common to Torraco, and in one case a fingerprint on the demand note.
Torraco’s sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2017. He has been detained since his arrest in North Carolina on September 27, 2016 and will remain detained pending sentencing.
This investigation of this matter was overseen by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and conducted by the Rindge (N.H.) Police Department, the Gardner (Massachusetts) Police Department, the Winchester (Connecticut) Police Department and the Huntersville (North Carolina) Police Department. The prosecution of the case is being coordinated with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Districts of Massachusetts and Connecticut, the Middle District (Massachusetts) Attorney’s Office, and the Litchfield County (Connecticut) State’s Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Morse.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty to Gun and Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Daniel Rogers, 30, of Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty today to federal charges of possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime..
According to court documents and statements made in court, shortly after midnight on October 3, 2016, Manchester Police conducted a traffic stop on a car driven by Rogers at the intersection of Granite Street and Commercial Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. Police determined that there were outstanding warrants for both Rogers and the passenger in the vehicle, and both of them were arrested. Police obtained a warrant to search the vehicle, which resulted in the seizure of four firearms, including two rifles that were previously reported stolen, along with approximately 37 grams of fentanyl, 25 grams of crack cocaine, and 21 grams of powder cocaine. Rogers was previously convicted of a felony and was prohibited from possessing firearms.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2017.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stopping drug distribution and the violence associated with drug dealing,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Armed drug dealers present a serious risk to public safety and we will be aggressive in our efforts to get guns out of the hands of criminals. I commend the law enforcement officers in this case for their work protecting our community.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shane Kelbley.
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Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking OffenseRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that on July 26, 2017, Taheem Mungo, 35, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty to a federal charge of possessing crack cocaine and heroin with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 1, 2016, the New Hampshire State Police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Mungo was a passenger. The stop occurred on Interstate 95 around Hampton, New Hampshire. Police discovered that Mungo had an active arrest warrant out of New York, and he was arrested. Mungo then consented to a search of his luggage, which revealed approximately 172 grams of crack cocaine and approximately 10 grams of heroin.
Mungo’s sentencing is scheduled for November 14, 2017.
This matter was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.
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Massachusetts Man Who Conspired to Traffic Drugs in New Hampshire Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that on July 24, 2017, Martin Gonzalez-Diaz, 34, formerly of Methuen, Massachusetts, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute in excess of one kilogram of heroin and quantities of fentanyl and oxycodone.
An offer of proof made during court proceedings established that from approximately the Spring of 2014 through late January of 2016, Martin Gonzalez-Diaz and his co-defendant, Juan Alexis Diaz Pena, conspired to distribute kilogram quantities of heroin and lesser quantities of fentanyl and oxycodone in the Lawrence, Massachusetts, area to individuals who in turn sold the drugs to New Hampshire based drug customers for re-distribution in Rochester, New Hampshire.
Gonzalez-Diaz’s co-defendant, Pena, 31, also formerly of Methuen, Massachusetts, was previously sentenced to 96 months in prison on June 26, 2017, for his role in the drug conspiracy and for his unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
As part of the investigation, in January 2016, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) searched an apartment connected to Pena and located quantities of cocaine and heroin and items associated with drug trafficking. A loaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered from under a mattress in a bedroom in close proximity to where the drugs were located.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address the significant presence of heroin and fentanyl in New Hampshire. We will continue to target drug trafficking organizations that are responsible for the importation of large quantities of these drugs into New Hampshire from source cities like Lawrence, Massachusetts,” stated Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
After Gonzalez-Diaz completes serving his ten-year prison sentence, he will likely face deportation proceedings to remove him from the United States.
This investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Tactical Diversion Unit, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the Rochester, New Hampshire Police Department, and the Haverhill, Massachusetts Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Cole Davis and Seth Aframe prosecuted the case.
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Four Lawrence Residents Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute HeroinRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that four residents of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin during a period beginning in 2013 and ending in October 2016.
The defendants were part of an indictment returned by the grand jury for the District of New Hampshire on October 5, 2016, charging 16 individuals with participating in the conspiracy.
According to documents on file with the court and statements made during the change of plea hearings, the drug trafficking organization responsible for distributing heroin was managed by Alberto Guerrero Marte, age 34. Day to day customer orders for heroin were taken by Michell DeJesus, age 37, and the information was provided to Marte. The heroin was delivered to the customers at various residences in Massachusetts by Maribel Santiago Ramos, age 34, and others. Each of these defendants admitted to trafficking one kilogram or more of heroin during the conspiracy.
Defendant Allison DeJesus, age 18, also took customer orders for heroin and re-supplied Santiago Ramos when deliveries were made.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for October 27, 2017, for Allison DeJesus. Sentencing hearings have been scheduled for November 1, 2017, for Marte, Michell DeJesus, and Maribel Santiago Ramos. The United States has agreed to recommend a sentence of 15 years for defendant Marte and a sentence of five years of probation for defendant Allison DeJesus. The sentences for the remaining defendants will be determined at the time of sentencing.
“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in the Granite State and those suffering from the disease of heroin and fentanyl addiction need access to treatment and recovery,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “But, those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like heroin to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions. DEA is committed to aggressively pursue Drug Trafficking Organizations or individuals who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison across New Hampshire in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
Defendant Luis Rodriguez Lugo is scheduled for trial on September 6, 2017. Defendants Jonaly DeJesus, Allan Pimentel, Santo Garcia Mendez, Wilkin Beltre Aria, Alfredo Gonzalez, Querzon Baez, Pedro Vincente Guerrero, Jose Pimentel and Edward Garcia are scheduled for trial on October 3, 2017.
The case was investigated by the DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; the Massachusetts State Police; the Haverhill Police Department; the United States Marshals Service; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; the Lawrence Police Department; the Lowell Police Department, the Methuen Police Department, and the Hillsborough County Drug Task Force. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Don Feith.
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Keene Man Sentenced to 87 Months for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Jeremiah Pless, 33, of Keene, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography. Pless was convicted by a jury on April 11, 2017.
The jury was presented with evidence that, in February 2015, the Hinsdale Police Department obtained a search warrant to search a residence in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, based on probable cause that the residence was connected to the downloading of child pornography. Chief Todd Faulkner and Commander Tom Grella assembled a team of specially trained officers from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to assist in the search. While at the residence on February 18, 2015, the search team found evidence that Pless possessed child pornography that he had downloaded using the Shareaza file sharing program. A review of the hard drive taken from Pless’ computer later confirmed that the images of child pornography included images of known minor children.
Pless was also sentenced to ten years of supervised release which will begin after he is released from prison. During the period of supervised release, Pless’ conduct will be monitored by the United States Probation & Pretrial Services Office. Pless will also have to register as a sex offender.
The investigation was led by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Hinsdale Police Department. The ICAC Task Force provided invaluable assistance in the investigation as did officers from the Portsmouth Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, the Hampton Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police and the Vermont Attorney General’s Office. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney, Don Feith.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 46 Months in Prison for Bank Robbery and Attempted Convenience Store RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Jonathan Faucher, 39, of Manchester, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to attempting to rob a convenience store and robbing a bank in Manchester.
Court filings and statements made in court established that shortly after midnight on September 28, 2016, Faucher entered a 7-Eleven on Maple Street in Manchester, New Hampshire. After ordering a pack of cigarettes, Faucher brandished a box-cutter and told the clerk to “give me all the money if you don’t want to get hurt.” The clerk behind the counter responded by brandishing a pizza cutter at Faucher, who fled the area without any money.
A few days later, on October 3, 2016, Faucher robbed a TD Bank branch on Franklin Street, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Faucher handed a note to a bank teller demanding money and claiming that he had a gun. The bank teller handed over $600 and Faucher fled the bank on foot, but Manchester Police responding to the robbery apprehended him just a few blocks from the scene of the crime.
The case was investigated by the Manchester Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shane Kelbley.
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Resident of Weare Pleads Guilty to Possessing Firearms as a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Jodi Swett, 31, of Weare, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing multiple firearms and ammunition as a prohibited person.
According to court records and statements made in court, on April 30, 2015, Swett pleaded guilty to a domestic violence offense. The conviction meant that Swett could not legally possess a firearm or ammunition. Nevertheless, in a private transaction that occurred in Manchester in July 2016, Swett bought a Ruger pistol for $375. In another private transaction that occurred in Hillsborough in October 2016, Swett bought a shotgun for $250 and a bulletproof vest. Additionally, during a search of Swett’s residence on February 10, 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized two .22 caliber rifles, a 9 mm pistol, and more than 100 rounds of ammunition.
Swett will be sentenced on October 25, 2017.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to combat violent crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “When individuals possess firearms unlawfully they present a risk to the safety of the community. We will continue to prosecute those who possess weapons unlawfully and to use all available means to reduce the risk of violent crime here in New Hampshire.”
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Robert Kinsella is prosecuting the case.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for StalkingRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – David Ackell, 48, of Seekonk, Massachusetts, will serve a 33-month prison sentence for using facilities in interstate commerce to stalk a female resident of New Hampshire, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court records and statements made in court, Ackell sent an on-line private message to the victim when she was 16. 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.
Ackell was found guilty of the offense after a four-day jury trial in December 2016. The defendant will be appealing his conviction. He will not begin serving his sentence until after the Court of Appeals has ruled.
“In its various forms, cyber-stalking causes severe trauma to the stalked victims and the people who care about them,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “It is a high priority of this office to prosecute anyone who engages in this reprehensible conduct. This case is an unfortunate reminder that young people who use social media need to be vigilant about what information they share with others. I encourage parents to speak openly with their children about the need to be extremely cautious when establishing online relationships and sharing information with others. I commend the bravery of the victim in this case who came forward and shared her story with law enforcement officers.”
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. AUSA Kinsella represented the government at the sentencing hearing.
Massachusetts Woman Pleads Guilty to Drug Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Leslie Aberle, 33, of Salisbury, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl.
According to documents that were filed in court, on October 16, 2015, Aberle drove Mark Ross and Eve Tarmey to Lawrence, Massachusetts, in order to obtain a quantity of heroin. Ross obtained the drugs from a source in Lawrence while Aberle and Tarmey waited in Aberle’s car. After Ross acquired the drugs, the three returned to the Riviera Motel. Ross and Jazzmyn Rood also used a portion of the drugs and Ross provided a portion to Tarmey. The following morning, Tarmey was found dead in the motel room. The New Hampshire Medical Examiner later found that Ms. Tarmey died of acute fentanyl intoxication.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is dedicated to working with our law enforcement partners to combat the distribution of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Fentanyl and other opioids are responsible for the deaths of far too many citizens of the Granite State. We will continue to work each day with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who are distributing these drugs in New Hampshire.”
“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Fentanyl and heroin are causing overdose deaths across the Granite State in record numbers, and DEA is committed to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes these poisons in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
A sentencing hearing is set for August 22, 2017. Under the terms of a plea agreement, both parties are recommending a sentence of 60 months in prison.
The case was investigated by the Rochester Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.
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Wolfeboro Man Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison for Two Rochester Bank RobberiesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Jacob Chiaradonna, 28, of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for robbing two Rochester banks in October of 2016.
Court filings and statements made in court established that on October 5, 2016, Chiaradonna entered a Citizens Bank in Rochester, New Hampshire, and handed a teller a note that read “Give me all your $50 and $100, I have a gun don’t be stupid.” After taking money from the teller, Chiaradonna fled the bank. Six days later, on October 11, 2016, Chiaradonna robbed a TD Bank in Rochester using a similar strategy, handing a teller a note that read “give me your 20’s, 50’s, 100’s, I have a gun,” then fleeing on foot with the cash.
Law enforcement officers posted images of the robberies on television and social media, and several individuals familiar with Chiaradonna came forward to identify him as the robber. On October 13, 2016, law enforcement located Chiaradonna at a motel in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, and arrested him. A search of Chiaradonna’s cell phone from the motel turned up an internet browsing history that included visits to web pages providing advice on how to rob a bank.
Chiaradonna previously pleaded guilty to the two bank robberies on March 16, 2017. After serving his prison sentence, he will be on supervised release for a period of 3 years.
The case was jointly investigated by the Police Departments of Rochester and Wolfeboro, and by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking ChargeRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Ernesto L. Reyes, 26, of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to possessing a controlled substance with intent to distribute, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court documents and statements made at today’s change of plea hearing, Reyes committed a series of traffic violations while driving a motor vehicle on the evening of November 11, 2016, on Route 125 in Plaistow, New Hampshire. As a result of these violations, Reyes was stopped by the New Hampshire State Police. When Reyes exited the vehicle, a New Hampshire State Trooper observed a package wrapped in green colored plastic wrap containing a powder that appeared to be heroin. The package was located on the floor along the left side of the driver’s seat. Later testing performed by the State Police Forensic Laboratory confirmed that the package found in the vehicle contained nearly 100 grams of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl.
Reyes scheduled to be sentenced on October 19, 2017.
“The trafficking of heroin and fentanyl continues to have a grave impact on our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with all of our law enforcement partners to target those who are distributing these deadly drugs in our state. While those suffering from addiction need treatment, those who are profiting from the distribution of opioids will be prosecuted aggressively.”
The case was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Karen Burzycki.
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Former New Hampshire Resident Sentenced for Failure to Register as A Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that William Soltan, 34, of Suffolk County, New York, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to failing to register as a sex offender as required by the federal Sexual Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
According to documents that were filed and statements made in court, Soltan left New Hampshire sometime after July 2014 for a temporary visit to New York. At the time he left, Soltan was obligated to return to New Hampshire not later than December 30, 2014. Soltan did not return to New Hampshire, did not register in New Hampshire in 2015, and did not register in New York in 2015. Under SORNA, a person who is required to register must register in each jurisdiction where he resides, is employed or is going to school. SORNA gives an individual three days in which to register.
Soltan, who previously pleaded guilty, was also sentenced to serve five years of supervised release after he is released from prison.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service with the assistance of the Manchester Police Department, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.
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Brookfield Man Pleads Guilty to Manufacturing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Andrew McKenzie, 28, of Brookfield, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty today to one count of manufacturing child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to documents on file and statements made during the change of plea hearing, in October 2016 the defendant began an instant messenger conversation through Kik with an undercover agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The defendant agreed to send the undercover agent sexually explicit photographs of a minor child. The investigation determined that the images sent by the defendant were of a minor child known to the defendant.
The defendant has agreed to serve a sentence of 262 months in federal prison under the terms of a plea agreement with the United States to be followed by five years of supervised release. If the Court decides to reject the agreement, the defendant will have the right to withdraw his guilty plea. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 19, 2017.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rochester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Helen White Fitzgibbon and Donald Feith.
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Salem Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison for Producing child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H.: Brian Powell, 34, of Salem, New Hampshire, was sentenced to spend 25 years in federal prison for producing child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court records and statements in court, an Electronic Service Provider (ESP) alerted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that an individual had uploaded a child pornography file to the ESP’s website. That file was ultimately traced back to the Powell’s residence in Salem, New Hampshire. In 2015, the Salem Police Department obtained a search warrant for the residence and seized Powell’s personal computer. A detective with the Rochester, New Hampshire Police Department – also a member of the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force – analyzed the contents of the computer and discovered a collection of child pornography.
That collection included several videos which the defendant had manufactured himself by initiating contact with minor females through an anonymous internet chat service. Powell, persuading the females to engage in sexually explicit conduct, which the defendant then captured on video without their knowledge. On at least two occasions, the defendant used advanced computer software to track the victims’ IP addresses which allowed him to reengage in conversation with them. He then played the previously-recorded videos for the victims and threatened to publicize them unless the victims engaged in additional sexual conduct. The victims complied and the defendant recorded these acts as well.
Powell, who previously pleaded guilty, will be on supervised release for ten years following his release from prison.
“The defendant’s conduct merits the substantial sentence that the court imposed today,” Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said. “He manipulated young women into exposing themselves and then threatened them with public humiliation if they did not engage in sexual acts that he could record. This reprehensible conduct robbed these young women of their innocence and cannot be tolerated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners each day to identify and prosecute those who abuse children by producing child pornography.”
The investigation in this case was led by the Salem, New Hampshire Police Department with the assistance of the New Hampshire Crimes Against Children Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Rochester and Derry police departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana Konesky.
In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Distributing FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Edward Garcia, 36, of Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing fentanyl at the Rockingham Mall in June and July 2015.
According to documents on file with the court and statements made at today’s change of plea hearing, in 2015 law enforcement officers were targeting the sale of heroin and fentanyl from sources located in Massachusetts. As part of the investigation, an undercover officer purchased fentanyl from Garcia on June 12, 2015 and on July 14, 2015. Each sale involved 29.5 grams of the controlled substance fentanyl.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 23, 2017.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with all of our law enforcement partners to stop the flow of fentanyl into New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Because even a small quantity of fentanyl can be deadly, we will continue to work together to prosecute those who are responsible for distributing this drug and will make every effort to stop this drug from being sold in New Hampshire. While those who suffer from substance use disorders should receive treatment, those who seek to profit from the drug trade need to be held accountable for their actions.”
“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in New Hampshire,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Fentanyl is causing overdose deaths across the Granite State in record numbers, and DEA is committed to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners and our strong relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Task Force Officers from a number of New Hampshire law enforcement agencies and members of the Massachusetts State Police assisted in the investigation. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Don Feith.
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Previously Convicted Felon Sentenced to 46 Months in Federal Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
Concord, N.H.—John J. Farley, Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, announced that Micky Garst, Jr., 26, previously of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to spend 46 months in federal prison for his possession of two stolen firearms.
According to court documents and statements in court, on the morning of August 19, 2015, Manchester Police investigating a reported fight outside a pizza parlor encountered a large crowd, including the defendant and a female companion. After investigating the source of the conflict, officers asked to search the companion’s vehicle, and she consented. Located in the trunk was a Colt .45 handgun that had been reported stolen from a home in Manchester four days earlier. Blood samples from the scene of the theft were later confirmed by the state crime lab as a match with Garst. Later, in February 2016, Garst took a Ruger firearm from the home of an acquaintance. The firearm was recovered after Garst stashed it in the dumpster of a nearby convenience store. Garst is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law as a result of a prior felony conviction.
Garst, who pleaded guilty on March 16, 2017, will spend three years on supervised release after he is released from prison. Garst has been in state custody on a parole violation based on the above conduct since his arrest in March 2016. His federal sentence will run consecutive to his remaining undischarged time in state prison.
This matter was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Manchester Police Department, with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory. 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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New York Notary Public Pleads Guilty to Aiding and Abetting VISA FraudRead the Press Release
Concord, N.H. — Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Mohammed Abdul Baten, 65, of Brooklyn, New York, pleaded guilty today to aiding and abetting visa fraud.
According to court records and statements in court, the case arose out an investigation into falsely notarized documents used to obtain visas. Specifically, when a legal immigrant seeks to petition to have other alien relatives admitted into the country, the National Visa Center (“NVC”) requires that the petitioner demonstrate a sufficient income level to support the relatives upon their arrival. This process is intended to ensure that the new immigrants will not become public charges after they enter the country. If the petitioner does not have enough income, he or she may submit paperwork in which another person, i.e. the “joint sponsor,” agrees to provide financial support for the new arrivals. The joint sponsor also is required to document his or her own income and assets to ensure sufficient resources will be available. The joint sponsor is required to complete an I-864 form under penalties of perjury.
In this case, a number of submissions to the NVC contained repeat joint sponsors appearing to support large numbers of petitioners. Further investigation revealed that many of these joint sponsors had not, in fact, agreed to serve as joint sponsors and did not sign the I-864 forms purporting to bear their signatures. Rather, the I-864 forms had been forged and were falsely notarized by Baten in his capacity as a notary public in Brooklyn, New York. In this respect, Baten’s notarizations were a material aid to the petitioners’ submissions of false and misleading documents to the NVC.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for October 3, 2017.
This matter was investigated by the Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Two Bank Robberies During Spring 2016 Crime SpreeRead the Press Release
Concord, N.H.—Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Michael Munroe (also known as Michael Monroe), 34, previously of Raymond, New Hampshire, has pleaded guilty to two bank robberies.
According to court records and statements in court, Munroe robbed a Northway Bank branch location in Ossipee, NH on March 28, 2016 and a Granite State Credit Union branch location in Seabrook, NH on April 1, 2016. He committed each robbery by passing a demand note to the teller threatening that he had a gun and demanding money. Following each robbery, Munroe fled the scene.
The two bank robberies were part of a larger two-state multi-week crime spree perpetrated by Munroe in March and April 2016. As part of his plea today and to resolve his pending liability in other jurisdictions, Munroe also has admitted to other criminal conduct, including: (1) the March 19, 2016 assault on an individual in his home in Epping, NH; (2) the March 27, 2016 taking of a victim’s Honda Pilot from her possession in Manchester, NH; (3) the March 30, 2016 taking of a victim’s Lexus ES300 from her possession in Tewksbury, MA; (4) the March 31, 2016 attempted taking of a victim’s Toyota Highlander from her possession in Reading, MA; and (5) the April 1, 2016 theft of a Honda CRV while it was parked in Derry, NH. Munroe has been in custody since his arrest by Hancock Police on April 2, 2016.
As part of his plea agreement, Munroe has agreed to pay $1,645 in restitution to Northway Bank and $8,099 in restitution to Granite State Credit Union. He also has agreed to pay restitution to the victims of the uncharged additional criminal conduct detailed above.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for October 3, 2017.
This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Manchester Police Department, the Ossipee Police Department, the Seabrook Police Department, the Hancock Police Department, the Tewksbury, MA Police Department, and the Reading, MA Police Department. Assistance was provided by the County Attorney’s Offices for Hillsborough, Carroll, and Rockingham Counties in New Hampshire and the Middlesex County, MA, District Attorney’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Rolando Sierra-Oyola, 30, formerly of Andover, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.
According to court documents and statements made in court proceedings, Sierra-Oyola sold “fingers” (ten-gram quantities) of fentanyl on multiple occasions in 2015 and 2016 to individuals who were cooperating with law enforcement officers and who traveled from New Hampshire to purchase fentanyl. On some occasions, Sierra-Oyola sold the drugs directly. On other occasions, he sent “runners” to distribute the drugs on his behalf. He was arrested on July 22, 2016, outside his residence in Andover, Massachusetts. A search of his residence yielded additional quantities of fentanyl.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 12, 2017.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute individuals who are distributing fentanyl,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “This deadly drug is largely responsible for the substantial number of overdose deaths in the Granite State. Members of the law enforcement community will continue to work together to stop the flow of this drug into New Hampshire.”
“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels across New England and those suffering from opioid addiction need access to treatment and recovery,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “But those responsible for distributing a lethal drug like fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions. DEA is committed to aggressively pursue drug trafficking organizations or individuals who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal partners and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance from the police departments in Portsmouth and Exeter, New Hampshire, the police departments in Andover, Lawrence, and Wilmington, Massachusetts, and the New Hampshire State Police.
The case was prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley and Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Aframe.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute over Six Kilograms of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Rigoberto Ramirez-Aldava, 40, formerly of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Statements in court documents and earlier court proceedings showed in June 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) received information that Ramirez-Aldava was in possession of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine. On June 21, 2016, an undercover DEA Task Force Officer met with Ramirez-Aldava at a location in Manchester, where Ramirez-Aldava provided the undercover officer with a sample of approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine. On June 29, 2016, the undercover officer met with Ramirez-Aldava at the same location in Manchester and purchased approximately 359 grams of methamphetamine for $8,000. On July 11, 2016, Ramirez- Aldava was arrested as he travelled to a pre-arranged location in Manchester where he intended to sell the undercover officer approximately ten pounds of methamphetamine for $85,000. Approximately 4.5 kilograms were recovered from Ramirez-Aldava’s vehicle at the time of his arrest.
As part of the investigation, DEA agents searched the defendant’s business, El Patron Sports Bar and Grill in Manchester, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine. A second search at Ramirez-Aldava’s Manchester apartment resulted in the seizure of $6,000 of the currency used in the June 29 drug sale.
Ramirez-Aldava pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on March 16, 2017. Upon his release from federal prison, Ramirez-Aldava was ordered to serve two years of supervised release. However, Ramirez-Aldava is likely to be deported from the United States after completing his federal sentence.
“Even in amid the opioid crisis, other deadly drugs continue to threaten our state,”
Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said. “The highly pure methamphetamine that was involved in this case could have presented a serious risk to our community if quick-acting law enforcement officers had not identified Ramirez-Aldava and seized his substantial drug supply. I commend the DEA and our local law enforcement partners for their excellent work in keeping this very large amount of methamphetamine off the streets.”
“This sentence reflects DEA’s strong commitment to bring to justice those that distribute methamphetamine,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “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 investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in the Granite State and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue anyone who traffics this poison.”
The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Bedford Resident Office and the Manchester and Nashua New Hampshire Police Departments. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis prosecuted the case.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 72 Months for Federal Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H.— Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Sheldon Grant, 35, previously of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced today to serve 72 months in prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime.
According to the indictment, statements made in court, and other public records in the case, Grant obtained a firearm as payment for a marijuana debt he was owed in 2015. At the time, Grant was a previously-convicted felon and could not legally purchase or possess any firearms. The firearm previously had been stolen in Nashua, New Hampshire in September 2015. The gun later was recovered from Grant following a domestic incident in Manchester in March 2016.
Grant, who previously pleaded guilty to the offense, will be on supervised release for five years after he services his prison sentence.
This matter was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ (FBI) Safe Streets Gang Task Force, and the Manchester Police Department. The case is also 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. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to 27 Months in Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Brian Christoffels, 35, of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for bank robbery.
Court filings and statements made in court established that on October 10, 2016, Christoffels entered a TD Bank on South Main Street in Manchester, New Hampshire, handed a bank teller a note demanding cash, then fled the area in his truck. Manchester Police pursued Christoffels and eventually arrested him at an off-ramp from Interstate 93. The proceeds of the robbery were in his possession.
Christoffels previously pleaded guilty to the bank robbery on March 13, 2017. After serving his prison sentence for bank robbery, he will be on supervised release for a period of three years.
The case was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.
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Derry Man Sentenced to 70 Months in Prison for Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley, announced that David Morel, Jr., 31, of Derry, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for the District of New Hampshire for possessing child pornography.
According to court records and statements in court, the New Hampshire Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Derry Police Department developed information linking online images of child pornography to Morel’s residence in Derry, New Hampshire. In April 2016, a search warrant was executed on Morel’s computer, which was found to contain numerous videos depicting young children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
Morel, who pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography on December 21, 2016, will be placed on supervised release for ten years after he completes his prison sentence.
The case was investigated by the Derry Police Department, in conjunction with Homeland Security Investigations Manchester and the New Hampshire Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Helen Fitzgibbon and Shane Kelbley.
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 Attorneys 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 to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Pleads Guilty to Making False Statements on VISA ApplicationsRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Anna Delarosa, 57, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania pleaded guilty to making false statements in applications for family visas, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court documents, a limited number of family visas are issued by the United States State Department to citizens of foreign countries. To obtain a family visa, a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States (a “sponsor”) is required to submit an application for a family visa to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service. A citizen of a foreign country is not eligible for a family visa if he or she is likely to become a public charge after they enter the United States. Therefore, under federal law, a sponsor is also required demonstrate his or her ability to provide financial support to the applicant by submitting a financial affidavit, copies of their recent federal tax returns, and other personal financial records to the USCIS. All applications for family visas are processed at the National Passport Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
During the plea hearing today, Delarosa admitted that from August 2010 to April 2013, she knowingly caused ten financial affidavits that contained the forged signature of an alleged sponsor to be submitted to the National Visa Center in support of applications for family visas for citizens of the Dominican Republic.
Delarosa will be sentenced on October 11, 2017. The crime to which she pleaded guilty, making false statements to the federal government, is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by the United States States Department, Diplomatic Security Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kinsella.
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Methuen Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Trafficking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Juan Alexis Diaz Pena, 31, formerly of Methuen, Massachusetts, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone and unlawful possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Statements in earlier court proceedings showed that from approximately the spring of 2014 through January of 2016, Pena and Martin Gonzalez Diaz, conspired to distribute quantities of heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone in the Lawrence, Massachusetts area to individuals in Massachusetts, who in turn sold the drugs to individuals in New Hampshire who were further distributing the drugs to customers in Rochester, New Hampshire.
As part of the investigation, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) searched an apartment connected to Pena in January of 2016 and located quantities of cocaine and heroin, as well as items associated with drug trafficking. A loaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered under a mattress in a bedroom in close proximity to where the drugs were located.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address the significant presence of heroin and fentanyl in New Hampshire by continuing to target the drug trafficking organizations responsible for the importation of large quantities of these drugs into New Hampshire from source cities such as Lawrence, Massachusetts.” Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said.
Diaz Pena, who previously pleaded guilty, was sentenced to 36 months in prison on the drug trafficking charge and received a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of five years on the firearms charge, which must be served consecutively to the sentence on the drug charge. Diaz Pena will likely be deported from the United States after completing his federal sentence.
Gonzalez Diaz, 34, formerly of Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy charge on August 17, 2016 and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 10, 2017.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Tactical Diversion Unit, Portsmouth, New Hampshire; the Rochester, New Hampshire Police Department and the Haverhill, MA Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Cole Davis and Seth Aframe are prosecuting the case.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced for Illegal Attempt to Buy Guns in HooksettRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that today Michael Younge, 27, formerly of Framingham and Boston, Massachusetts was sentenced to serve 60 months in federal prison for his role in an illegal effort to purchase two firearms.
According to court documents and statements made during the prosecution of the case, on July 15, 2015, Younge, and three friends, Rafael Soriano, 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. Younge and Soriano, with Aleman’s help, solicited Gardner to buy two hand guns on their behalf. Gardner agreed to assist and attempted to purchase the two guns for Younge and Soriano. In connection with that attempt, Gardner filled out a form legally required for all intrastate over-the-counter hand gun purchases on which she falsely certified that she was the “actual purchaser” of the two hand guns, when she was really attempting to buy them for Younge and Soriano. The store never transferred the firearms because its employees became suspicious and declined to complete the transaction.
Younge previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the making of a false statement in connection with the attempted acquisition of a firearm. After serving his sentence, he will be on supervised release for a period of three years.
Two of the other individuals involved in the scheme, Gardner and Aleman, pleaded guilty and were sentenced to terms of probation. A warrant for Soriano’s arrest is outstanding.
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 Bill Morse.
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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Kingston Man Sentenced in Connection with Drug Distribution Causing DeathRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Kenneth Chapman (62), formerly of Kingston, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl.
According to documents that were filed in United States District Court and statements at the sentencing proceeding, on June 12, 2016, Chapman sold a quantity of fentanyl to “M.S.”, a 31-year old male from Atkinson, New Hampshire. Because of a 911 call the following morning, emergency personnel responded to a residence in Atkinson, where they found M.S. dead from a suspected drug overdose. In the immediate vicinity of the body, law enforcement officers found a tied-off plastic bag that contained a white powdery substance that was determined to be fentanyl. An autopsy determined M.S.’ death was caused by acute fentanyl intoxication.
Chapman, who previously pleaded guilty, will be on supervised release for three years after serving his sentence.
“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in New Hampshire,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Fentanyl is causing overdose deaths across the Granite State, and DEA is committed to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
“Fentanyl continues to be the cause of far too many deaths in the Granite State,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who sell this deadly drug. The law enforcement cooperation after this overdose death demonstrates our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal level to identify those who distribute deadly doses of drugs. While we support access to treatment for those who suffer from addiction, those who distribute these deadly drugs need to be held accountable for the substantial damage they are causing in our community.”
This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from Kingston and Atkinson Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
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Texas Man Found Guilty of Credit Card Fraud and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Francisco Tamayo Noguera, 36, of Austin, Texas, was found guilty by a jury of conspiracy to commit credit and debit card fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a credit card fraud scheme.
According to the testimony given during the trial, Noguera traveled from Austin, Texas, to New Hampshire on January 8, 2016 with Dairon Jimenez Roja and Elvis Barban Chavez. The three stayed at a motel in Nashua, New Hampshire and between January 9, 2016 and January 12, 2016, they visited Sam’s Club stores in Manchester, Hudson, Seekonk, Massachusetts and Worcester Massachusetts. While at the stores the conspirators purchased gift cards, usually in the amount of $200, with credit and debit card information of other individuals. The conspirators acquired the other individuals’ information from a skimming device that had been placed in a gas pump in Londonderry, New Hampshire. Once they obtained the information, the conspirators made clone cards that contained the debit and credit card information and used those clone cards to purchase the gift cards. The total estimated loss is approximately $29,000.
The conspirators were captured after they fled the Hudson Sam’s Club on January 12, 2016. Store employees had noticed the fraudulent activity and called the Hudson Police Department. The individuals were arrested by the Tyngsborough Police Department on January 12, 2016 after a pursuit was initiated by the Hudson Police Department. At the time of the arrest, numerous cards and a skimming device were found in the vehicle.
A sentencing hearing for the defendant is scheduled for October 3, 2017.
Dairon Jimenez Roja and Elvis Barban Chavez previously pleaded guilty and were each sentenced to 24 months in prison.
The case was investigated by the Hudson Police Department, the Londonderry Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Tyngsborough Police Department, and the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory. Numerous other departments and the staffs at various Sam’s Club stores assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.
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Concord Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Leeland Eisenberg, of Concord, New Hampshire, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for bank robbery and separately sentenced to five years of probation for possessing cocaine.
Court filings and statements made in court established that Eisenberg robbed the Citizen’s Bank located at 875 Elm Street in Manchester, New Hampshire on August 2, 2016 at approximately noon. Eisenberg walked into the bank, approached the teller station and handed a teller a robbery note that stated “No alarms. No dye packs. I have a gun and I will shoot you and others if you put a dye pack in. Fill the bag with cash now.”
A witness in the vicinity of the bank identified the robber as Eisenberg. The witness had known Eisenberg in the past and recognized Eisenberg as he left the bank. An image of the robber taken by the bank’s security system was distributed to law enforcement. Law enforcement officers familiar with Eisenberg also identified the robber as Eisenberg after reviewing the images.
Eisenberg was arrested by two Manchester officers in the area of the Pine Street Cemetery at 6:42 p.m. on August 2, 2016. At the time of his arrest, Eisenberg had a small quantity cocaine in his possession.
Eisenberg pleaded guilty to bank robbery and drug possession charges. After serving his prison sentence for bank robbery, he will be on supervised release for a period of three years. He also will be on probation for five years as a result of the drug possession conviction.
Eisenberg was sentenced on the bank robbery charge on June 16, 2017. He was sentenced on the drug possession charge on June 21, 2017.
The case was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Feith.
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Swanzey Man Sentenced to 42 Months in Federal Prison for Possessng Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Dale Edson, 30, of Swanzey, New Hampshire, was sentenced to serve 42 months in federal prison for possessing child pornography, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court documents and statements in court, law enforcement received information in July 2015 that potential child pornography images had been uploaded to a cloud storage service from a phone number associated with Edson. After establishing that the phone number was used by Edson, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Edson’s residence. On September 9, 2015, the police executed the warrant and, based on a preliminary forensic review conducted at the residence, seized three computers and other devices. A forensic examination of two laptop computers established that images of child pornography were found on each computer. An examination of a tablet used by Edson established that images of child pornography were found on the tablet.
Edson pleaded guilty to possessing child pornography in March. After he is released from prison, Edson will be on supervised release for five years.
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.
The case was investigated by the Hinsdale Police Department and the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Swanzey Police Department, the Bedford Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, the Portsmouth Police Department, the Rochester Police Department, and the Interstate Crimes Against Children Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald Feith.
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Keene Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Manufacturing MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Jesse Dennis, 32, of Keene, New Hampshire was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for possession of materials to manufacture methamphetamine and attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about January 13, 2016, the defendant was pulled over after committing various traffic infractions in Keene, New Hampshire. The defendant consented to a search of his vehicle where officers found various implements and ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine. The defendant admitted that he had attempted to manufacture methamphetamine on various occasions. After executing a search warrant for his vehicle, officers uncovered materials that a New Hampshire State police forensic laboratory chemist determined are collectively consistent with methamphetamine manufacturing via the one-pot method. The chemist also determined that samples taken from the vehicle indicated the presence of methamphetamine.
Dennis, who previously pleaded guilty, will be on supervised release for three years after he serves his prison sentence.
“Methamphetamine poses a serious threat to our community,” Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said. “While this drug is dangerous to those who ingest it, it can be particularly hazardous when it is manufactured in vehicles or homes. This unsafe practice can lead to fires and explosions and creates a frightening hazard to innocent individuals in the area. I commend the law enforcement officers in this case whose quick actions prevented a potential tragedy.”
“This sentence reflects DEA’s strong commitment to bring to justice those that manufacture methamphetamine,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “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 investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue anyone who manufactures this poison.”
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Keene, New Hampshire Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky.
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Nashua Man Sentenced to 63 Months in Prison for Armed Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Daniel Quinn, 48, of Nashua, New Hampshire, was sentenced to serve 63 months in federal prison for armed bank robbery, announced Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley.
According to court records and statements in court, shortly before noon on June 25, 2015, Quinn entered the St. Mary’s Bank in Hudson, New Hampshire wearing a black hat, a mask and gloves, and carrying a knife in his left hand while keeping a brown leather satchel over his left shoulder hanging by his waist on the right side in which it appeared he had a handgun. Quinn forced all of the patrons and employees, other than those behind the teller counters, to line up against a wall while he robbed one of the tellers using the knife. After getting the money from the teller, Quinn took one of the bank employees hostage in order to make his escape. Shortly after Quinn and the hostage left the bank the hostage was able to get away from Quinn and ran back into the bank, while Quinn ran in the opposite direction. Fortunately, the hostage was not physically harmed.
The Hudson Police Department responded to the bank within minutes of the robbery. A police canine, which quickly picked up Quinn’s scent, led police to a residential neighborhood close to the bank where Quinn was found hiding in the side yard of a home. Quinn was taken into custody without incident and the leather satchel, which was found within a few feet of Quinn partially covered with leaves, was seized. Inside the satchel, the money from the robbery, the knife, the gloves, the mask and other things related to the robbery were recovered. A BB gun, was also found in the satchel.
In imposing sentence today, United States District Judge Landya B. McCafferty told Mr. Quinn that his conduct at the bank that day was an act of terror.
Quinn pleaded guilty on September 13, 2016. After serving his prison sentence, Quinn will be on supervised release for three years.
This case was investigated by the FBI and the Hudson, NH Police Department and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Arnold H. Huftalen.
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Manchester Resident Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Possession of A FirearmRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Joseph Davis, 31, of Manchester, New Hampshire, has been sentenced to serve 50 months in prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm.
At a trial in March of 2017, evidence showed that shortly after midnight on July 2, 2016, police officers in Hampton, New Hampshire saw Davis driving a car in an erratic manner on Ocean Boulevard. Before the police could intervene, Davis abruptly stopped the car in front of the north bathhouse on Ocean Boulevard. While detained by the police, Davis removed a large scarf from around his neck and placed it over the area between the driver’s seat and the center console.
After arresting Davis for driving under the influence, a police officer searched the car and found a HiPoint Model C9, 9mm, pistol tucked between the driver’s seat and the center console. The firearm was fully loaded. One bullet was in the chamber. The safety was in the off position.
Davis was prohibited from possessing firearms because he was a convicted felon. He previously was convicted of first-degree assault and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
“Protecting public safety from violent criminals is a high priority of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “When criminals have guns in their possession, it threatens the safety of our citizens and our communities. I want to thank our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this case.”
The case was investigated by the Hampton Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bob Kinsella prosecuted the case.
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Former Manchester Man Sentenced for Role in Cocaine DealRead the Press Release
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Luis D. Capo-Nieves, 33, formerly of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made during court proceedings, on July 1, 2016, the Nashua Police department dispatched several officers to the parking lot of a city apartment complex in response to a citizen complaint about drug dealing activity there. In the parking lot, the responding police officers observed Capo-Nieves engage in an exchange with another individual, Wilfredo Tanon Rodriguez, that appeared to be part of a drug transaction. After Capo-Nieves and Tanon Rodriguez left the parking lot in Capo-Nieves’s car, police stopped the car for a variety of motor vehicle violations. A police inspection of a bag the police saw in the car during the traffic stop revealed 279 grams of cocaine.
Capo-Nieves, who pleaded guilty on February 28, 2017, will be on supervised release for three years after he serves his prison sentence. In addition, the Court directed that $2121 recovered from Capo-Nieves at the time of his arrest should be used to pay for his court-appointed defense attorney, instead of being returned to Capo-Nieves.
On June 2, 2017, Tanon Rodriguez, a former Nashua resident, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his participation in the drug transaction.
“Even as we continue to address the opioid epidemic, the law enforcement community remains committed to stopping the distribution of all illegal drugs,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Thanks to good police work, over a quarter kilogram of cocaine has been removed from the streets of Nashua.”
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Morse prosecuted the case.
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Former City of Nashua Volunteer Charged with Fraudulent Use of Social Security NumberRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Dana Michelle Lawrence, 43, of Nashua has been indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with fraudulent use of a social security number.
According to court documents, in 2006, Lawrence was sentenced in a Rhode Island state court to a one-year period of incarceration followed by nine years of probation for a theft offense. Shortly after Lawrence completed the prison sentence, she absconded from supervision and a warrant was issued for her arrest. In November 2016, Lawrence, using the alias “Genevieve Kaplan,” began working as a volunteer for the City of Nashua, preparing grant applications. On May 7, 2017, the Nashua Police Department (NPD) and FBI were told that “Kaplan” tried to obtain routing numbers and account numbers for bank accounts that belonged to the City.
While investigating the matter, the NPD and FBI obtained a copy of a lease application that “Kaplan” had used to rent an apartment in Nashua. On the application, “Kaplan” used a different first name, “Genna,” and a social security number assigned to another person. searching “Kaplan’s” Nashua apartment, the NPD and FBI found documents that contained different names, addresses, dates of births, and social security numbers.
On May 11, Lawrence was arrested and charged in state court with Identity Fraud, a felony under state law.
If convicted, Lawrence faces a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The charges and allegations contained in an indictment are merely accusations. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation, which is ongoing, has been conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of Inspector General of the Social Security Administration, and the Nashua Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Robert Kinsella and Anna Dronzek are prosecuting the case.
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Citizen of Ghana and Canada Sentenced to 29 Months in Prison for Role in Gun Smuggling SchemeRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Joel A. Tetteh, 53, a citizen of Ghana and Canada, was sentenced to serve 29 months in prison for orchestrating a scheme in which he unlawfully purchased firearms in New Hampshire and smuggled them to Ghana.
According to court documents and statements in court, Tetteh purchased a total of six handguns from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Hooksett, New Hampshire on April 29, 2014, October 29, 2014, and May 6, 2015. In purchasing these handguns, Tetteh filled out a form in which he stated that he resided at a location in Merrimack, New Hampshire. A subsequent law enforcement investigation showed that this statement was false. At the time of the purchase, Tetteh was residing in Worcester, Massachusetts and never resided at the address in Merrimack. Under federal law, the firearms dealer could not have lawfully sold these firearms to the defendant because he was not a resident of New Hampshire.
During a subsequent interview with law enforcement officers, Tetteh acknowledged that he had purchased the guns and shipped them to Ghana inside motor vehicles. He further admitted that in 2012 he had arranged for another person to purchase two additional firearms in New Hampshire, which also were sent to Ghana.
The firearms that Tetteh purchased are defense articles that may not be exported without a license from the State Department. Tetteh did not have such a license.
Tetteh previously pleaded guilty on September 9, 2016, to three counts of making material false statements during the acquisition of a firearm, three counts of making false statements during the purchase of a firearm, and three counts of smuggling goods from the United States
“The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.” Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said. “International gun smuggling is a serious crime that can lead to violent acts in other countries and undermine the stability of foreign governments. I commend the hard work of the law enforcement agents who investigated this significant case.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Homeland Security Investigations. It was prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.
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Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Prison for Firearms SchemeRead the Press Release
Concord, N.H.— Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Matthew Bergeron, formerly of Fitchburg, Massachusetts was sentenced to 78 months in prison for his role in the straw purchase of three firearms in New Hampshire.
According to court records and statements in court, Bergeron arranged to have two co-conspirators purchase firearms on his behalf in June and July 2016 from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Hooksett, New Hampshire. In connection with each firearm purchase, the co-conspirators were required to complete an ATF Form 4473 where they falsely stated that they were purchasing the firearms for themselves when they were actually purchasing the weapons for Bergeron. Bergeron also had each co-defendant purchase ammunition and extended clip magazines on his behalf. Shortly after the purchases, Bergeron took possession of the firearms, magazines and ammunition. Bergeron was a previously convicted felon and a resident of Massachusetts, and could not legally purchase the firearms for himself in New Hampshire.
Bergeron, who pleaded guilty to two conspiracy charges on March 2, 2017, will be placed on supervised release for three years after he completes his prison sentence.
Bergeron’s co-conspirators, Rashawn Dunn, 30, and Jessica Fithian, 33, both of Manchester, also have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners in order to prevent violence and to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.” Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said. “I commend the work of the law enforcement agencies in this case. Their hard work helps to keep our community safe.”
This matter was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Manchester Police Department. 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. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.
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Epsom Man Sentenced to 70 Month on Federal Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Christopher Barker, 24, of Epsom, New Hampshire, was sentenced on Tuesday to serve 70 months in federal prison for being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
According to pleadings filed with the court and statements made at the sentencing hearing, Concord Police conducting an undercover operation arranged to purchase a firearm from Barker in March 2016. When Barker arrived at the deal, Concord Police arrested him, seizing two firearms from his vehicle. At the time, Barker was prohibited from possessing any firearms as a result of a previous felony conviction.
Barker pleaded guilty to the charges on February 28, 2017. After being released from prison, he will be on supervised release for three years.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners in order to prevent violence and to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals.” Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said. “I commend the work of the Concord Police and the other law enforcement agencies in this case. Their hard work helps to keep our community safe.”
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and by the Police Departments of Concord and Lebanon, New Hampshire, and Hartford, Vermont, as well as by the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana Konesky and Shane Kelbley.
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Somersworth Man Sentenced to 78 Months for Credit Union Robbery and Criminal ThreateningRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Eric Rouleau, 37, most recently of Somersworth, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for robbing a credit union and mailing threatening communications.
According to pleadings filed with the court and statements made at today’s hearing, Rouleau robbed the Northeast Credit Union in Rochester on April 22, 2016 by entering the credit union and producing a note demanding money and saying no one would get hurt. After obtaining a sum of money, he left the bank on foot. Images of the robber were captured by the credit union’s surveillance system and distributed to the media. A short time later, Rouleau was positively identified as the robber.
In a matter unrelated to the robbery and while incarcerated pending trial on the robbery charge, Rouleau sent through the United States mail a series of threatening letters to a former girlfriend. A restraining order prohibiting contact with the former girlfriend was in place when one of the letters was mailed.
Rouleau pleaded guilty to the charges on March 3, 2017. After being released from prison, he will be on supervised release for three years. was also ordered to pay restitution to the credit union.
The case was investigated by the Rochester Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Helen White Fitzgibbon and Donald Feith.
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Four Men, Including Two Alleged Motorcycle Club Members, Arrested on Drug and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that four New Hampshire residents, including two alleged motorcycle club members, have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking crimes. One of the four men also has been charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to allegations contained in the federal criminal complaints that were unsealed today:
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Alleged Hells Angel Motorcycle Club member James Cunningham, 60, of Laconia, New Hampshire, is charged with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
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Alleged Milford & Company Motorcycle Club President Harry Bolton, 63, of Weare, New Hampshire, is charged with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine.
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Kenneth Bailey, 52, of Weare, New Hampshire, is charged with distributing and possessing with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.
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Timothy Raxter, 52, of Tilton, New Hampshire, is charged with possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Each drug charge is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The maximum penalty for the firearms charge against Raxter is up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
“Federal, state, and local law enforcement officers are united in our work to combat drug trafficking and violence,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Even as our state attempts to address the opioid crisis, we remain vigilant in our efforts to protect the public from the distribution of other dangerous drugs, such as cocaine and methamphetamine. I commend our law enforcement partners for their work in this investigation.”
"The Hells Angels are one of the most notorious biker gangs in the United States and often use violence and intimidation to protect their 'turf' in support of their criminal activities,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “As alleged, this investigation revealed that a Hells Angel member engaged in the distribution of drugs in New Hampshire. In an effort to create safer neighborhoods for everyone, the FBI New Hampshire’s Safe Streets Task Force is fully committed to the identification and pursuit of illicit gang activities within the state, to crack down on illegal drug distribution networks, and deter associated violence.”
A federal criminal complaint is only an allegation, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This ongoing investigation is being conducted by the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force which is comprised of the FBI, the New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Probation and Parole, and the Police Departments of Hudson, Manchester, and Nashua. Assistance was provided by the Laconia and Tilton police departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.
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Texas Man Sentenced to Two Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft Related to Credit Card FraudRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Dairon Julio Jimenez Roja, 26, of Austin, Texas, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to aggravated identity theft in connection with a credit card fraud scheme.
According to court documents, Roja and others traveled from Austin, Texas to New Hampshire in late December 2015 and early January 2016. Once they arrived in New Hampshire, they began purchasing gift cards at various retail stores in the area, including the Sam’s Club store in Hudson, New Hampshire. The group obtained credit card information for various individuals, including numerous New Hampshire residents, by downloading the information from a skimmer that was hidden in a gas pump at a store in Londonderry, New Hampshire. After downloading the information, the group used it to make counterfeit credit cards that were used at the self-checkout counters at retail stores to purchase gift cards in the amount of $200. The total estimated loss is approximately $29,000.
On January 12, 2016, the Hudson Police Department were notified that the group was in the store purchasing gift cards. The police responded to the store and pursued the group into Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, where they were arrested by the Tyngsborough Police. Numerous cards and a skimming device were found in the vehicle.
The case was investigated by the Hudson Police Department, the Londonderry Police Department, the Manchester Police Department, the Tyngsborough Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police Forensic Laboratory. Numerous other departments and the staffs at various Sam’s Club stores assisted in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Feith.
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Northfield Man Indicted for Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Heroin, Fentanyl, and Carfentanil with the Intent to Distribute and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Justin Gauthier, 39, formerly of Northfield, New Hampshire, has been indicted on charges that he unlawfully possessed methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil with the intent to distribute those controlled substances and for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the indictment, on August 5, 2016, Gauthier unlawfully possessed with the intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl. The indictment also charges that on March 16, 2017, Gauthier possessed with the intent to distribute quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil. Gauthier is further charged in the indictment with possession of seven firearms in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
Gauthier is scheduled for an arraignment in federal court at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 6, 2017.
Gauthier faces a possible maximum sentence of twenty years on the drug trafficking charges and a mandatory minimum five- year sentence for the firearms, which must be served consecutively to any term of imprisonment imposed for the drug charges.
“The aggressive investigation and prosecution of individuals engaged in drug trafficking in New Hampshire remains a top priority of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal level,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “Our state already has experienced far too many deaths as a result of drug overdoses. The recent presence of carfentanil - a drug that the DEA has stated is a hundred times more powerful than fentanyl - has the potential to result in an even greater number of overdose deaths here in New Hampshire. It presents an unprecedented public safety concern for law enforcement and first responders. The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to prosecute those who are responsible for distributing these dangerous drugs in our state.”
"ATF will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts, to vigorously combat drug traffickers and the threat they pose to our citizens by illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of their illegal drug trade", said Lawrence J. Panetta; Acting Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division.
This case is being investigated by the New Hampshire State Police, Narcotics Investigation Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tilton and Northfield, New Hampshire Police Departments. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
Charges set forth in an indictment are merely accusations and do not constitute proof of guilt. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Lawrence, Massachusetts Man Sentenced to 55 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute over One Kilogram of HeroinRead the Press Release
CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE –Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Jonathan Cruz-Marte, age 34, formerly of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was sentenced on Friday to serve 55 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute over a kilogram of heroin.
After a lengthy investigation, law enforcement officers determined that from late 2014 through March 2015, Cruz-Marte, a member of a Lawrence, Massachusetts-based heroin trafficking organization, conspired to supply a heroin distributor in Keene with multiple kilograms of heroin for distribution in Keene and the surrounding towns. Law enforcement officers arrested Cruz-Marte on March 12, 2015, after Cruz-Marte delivered two kilograms of heroin to an individual in Salem, New Hampshire.
Cruz-Marte pleaded guilty on November 23, 2016.
“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to address the opioid crisis in New Hampshire by continuing to identify and target drug traffickers who are responsible for the distribution of large quantities of heroin and fentanyl in New Hampshire. We will continue to work each day to identify and prosecute drug traffickers who seek to profit from selling these drugs that are killing our citizens and damaging the fabric of our communities,” Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said.
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. The investigation was conducted by the: (1) United States Attorney’s Office; (2) Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations; (3) New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force; (4) New Hampshire State Police; (5) Keene, New Hampshire Police Department; and (6) Massachusetts State Police. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis prosecuted the case.
Inmate at FCI-Berlin Pleads Guilty to Attempted Drug PossessionRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Dieuny Pasius, 26, an inmate at FCI-Berlin pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to possess a prohibited object within a federal prison. Pasius admitted the prohibited object he was attempting to possess was Alpha-PVP, known by the street name Flakka, a synthetic cathinone that is a Schedule I controlled substance. Synthetic cathinone is commonly referred to as bath salts.
According to documents filed with the court and statements made at the change of plea hearing, Pasius placed a letter in the institution mailbox at FCI-Berlin on January 14, 2017. The letter was reviewed by a staff member at the prison who noticed that certain words were emphasized. The staff members then placed the words in the order they appeared in the letter and a coded message was revealed. That coded message directed the letter’s intended recipient to obtain a quantity of Flakka and sent it to Pasius through covert means.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 22, 2017. According to federal law, any sentence imposed in connection with this charge must be served consecutively to any sentence currently be served by Pasius.
The Bureau of Prisons led the investigation of this case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Donald Feith.
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Haverhill Resident Sentenced to Six Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Juan Rojas, 32, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, was sentenced to six years in federal prison for his participation in two conspiracies: (1) a conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, oxycodone and cocaine and (2) a conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents and statements in court, Rojas and others participated in the distribution of cocaine and oxycodone pills in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. During a court-authorized wiretap investigation, law enforcement officers intercepted calls in which Rojas obtained quantities of oxycodone and cocaine, which he then supplied to others, including Franklyn and Mara Morillo. The Morillos then arranged to distribute the drugs to multiple customers. Rojas was arrested on August 18, 2015. Law enforcement officers found approximately 110 grams of cocaine in the vehicle he was operating.
During the wiretap investigation, officers also intercepted calls indicating that Rojas and another individual (Oscar Rosario) were planning to rob a drug dealer. Intercepted calls showed that Rosario traveled from New Hampshire to Haverhill, Massachusetts, where he obtained a firearm from Rojas. A law enforcement officer later stopped Rosario and recovered the firearm before it could be used to commit the robbery.
Rojas pleaded guilty to these crimes on January 5, 2017. After his prison sentence, he will be on supervised release for three years.
Rojas is one of six individuals convicted for participating in this drug trafficking conspiracy. Mara Morillo, 41, of Haverhill, Massachusetts was sentenced to seven years in prison; Franklyn Morillo, 42, of Haverhill, Massachusetts was sentenced to 14 years in prison; Jorge Medina, 25, of Haverhill, Massachusetts was sentenced to two years in prison; Justin Bartimus, 36, formerly of Methuen, Massachusetts was sentenced to 18 months in prison; and Michael Lally, 28, of Salem, New Hampshire is a awaiting sentencing.
Rojas and Rosario were charged in a separate indictment with conspiracy to possess a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Rosario previously pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in prison.
“This is another example of the commitment of the United States Attorney’s Office to working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are responsible for distributing opioids and other drugs,” Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said. “The road to heroin or fentanyl addiction often begins with the misuse of oxycodone pills. This case was an example of excellent law enforcement cooperation that put an end to a substantial drug trafficking operation that was profiting from the sale of these dangerous pills. Thanks to the hard work of multiple law enforcement agencies, these drug traffickers will no longer be jeopardizing the safety of our community.”
"The DEA is committed to investigating and bringing to justice those who illicitly distribute oxycodone,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Opiate abuse is a major problem in New Hampshire and throughout New England. The diversion of prescription pain killers, in this case oxycodone, contributes to the widespread abuse of opiates, is the gateway to heroin and fentanyl addiction, and is devastating our communities. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue any group or individual that traffics these drugs.”
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. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Tactical Diversion Squad led the investigation with assistance from the Haverhill, Massachusetts Police Department, the Methuen, Massachusetts Police Department, and the Massachusetts State Police. It was prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.
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Former Nashua Man Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Cocaine TraffickingRead the Press Release
CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced yesterday that Wilfredo Tanon Rodriguez, 54, formerly of Nashua, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute more than a quarter kilogram of cocaine.
According to court documents and statements made during earlier court proceedings, on July 1, 2016, the Nashua Police Department dispatched several officers to the parking lot of a city apartment complex. The officers were dispatched to that location in response to a citizen complaint about drug dealing activity there. After conducting surveillance, police later conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in which Tanon Rodriguez was riding in the front passenger seat.
Tanon Rodriguez consented to a police inspection of a bag at his feet as well as a container found inside the bag. Inside the container, the police found approximately 279 grams of cocaine. After his arrest, Tanon Rodriguez admitted that, at the time of the traffic stop, he had been delivering the cocaine to a third party and that he had engaged in a similar transaction once before. Two firearms were found in a car belonging to Tanon Rodriguez, which was parked in the apartment complex that was the subject of the original police surveillance.
After serving the 30-month prison sentence, Tanon Rodriguez will serve three years of supervised release.
Luis D. Capo-Nieves -- the driver of the car – will be sentenced on a related charge on June 12, 2017. Capo-Nieves is also a former resident of Nashua.
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also provided assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Morse prosecuted the case.
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