District of New Hampshire

CONCORD – A Nashua man was sentenced today in federal court in connection with a firearm-related charge, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Joshua Smith, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 68 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. On February 6, 2024, Smith pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

In March 2022, Nashua Police detectives were executing a warrant for the defendant’s arrest. Detectives apprehended and arrested the defendant as he was leaving a building to get into a taxi. At the time of his arrest, the defendant was carrying a duffle bag that contained a 40 mm caliber riot gun.  The defendant had previously been convicted of several felonies, including a robbery in 2013, and was therefore was prohibited from possessing a firearm.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping guns out of the hands of felons,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “This office will continue to hold felons possessing firearms accountable for their continued disregard of the law and will ensure that they pay the penalty for their recidivism.”

“Getting firearms away from convicted felons not allowed to have them is vital as we work to combat violent crime in New Hampshire,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Joshua Smith has a lengthy criminal record and wasn’t permitted to have a gun. The FBI’s Major Offender Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to imprison criminals who refuse to respect the law in an effort to make our communities safer.”

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Charles Rombeau are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

###

CONCORD –A Swanzey man was indicted in federal court for stealing firearms from a federally licensed gun store, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Khale Guillou, 19, of Swanzey, was indicted on one count of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Guillou is in Massachusetts state custody on unrelated charges. He will appear in federal court on a later date.

On July 6, 2024, Guillou stole 17 firearms from the premises of a person federally licensed to deal in firearms, including one rifle and 16 pistols.

The charge of theft of firearms from a federal firearms licensee provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to a 3-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene Police Department, Swanzey Police Department, Winchester Police Department, and Tewksbury Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

CONCORD – A Lawrence man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Ronny O. Ramos, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, specifically methamphetamine.  U.S. District Court Samantha D. Elliot scheduled sentencing for November 25, 2024. A trial date for co-defendant Riley P. Thibodeau has been set for September 17, 2024.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ramos conspired to traffic approximately 50 pounds of methamphetamine from Massachusetts to New Hampshire on five occasions.  From March through October 2023, Ramos received five separate orders of methamphetamine from Thibodeau, via an intermediary. The payments to Thibodeau for the methamphetamine were made via the same intermediary. The amounts per order ranged from 10-12 pounds at a price of approximately $20,000 for each order. The methamphetamine was delivered to Thibodeau in New Hampshire.  On October 31, 2023, law enforcement agents arrested Ramos in Methuen, Massachusetts, and seized 10 pounds of methamphetamine destined for New Hampshire.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation.  The Manchester Police Department, the Salem Police Department, and the Methuen Police Department provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case.  

###

CONCORD – A Florida man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord for his role in a conspiracy to defraud Medicare of $39.5 million, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Christopher Spellman, 22, of Port Richey, Florida, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for November 21, 2024.  Spellman was charged on July 17, 2024. 

According to court documents, Spellman and his co-conspirators owned and operated Dimon Business Solution, LLC, a purported durable medical equipment (DME) management company. Dimon operated a network of DME supplier businesses throughout the country, including two in New Hampshire. However, Spellman and his co-conspirators concealed their ownership interests in the DME suppliers by using nominee owners. Spellman and his co-conspirators paid kickbacks and bribes for signed doctors’ orders prescribing orthotic braces.  Ultimately, Medicare beneficiaries received orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary, procured through illegal kickbacks and bribes, and not often wanted or needed. 

During the conspiracy, Spellman and his co-conspirators submitted, or caused the submission of, false and fraudulent claims to Medicare in excess of $39.5 million for orthotic braces that were medically unnecessary, ineligible for Medicare reimbursement, or not provided as represented. Medicare paid at least $23 million to DME suppliers secretly owned and operated by Spellman and his co-conspirators for these claims. 

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 or twice the pecuniary gain. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service led the investigation. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack and Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward are prosecuting the case.

###

CONCORD – An inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Berlin was sentenced to 9 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a weapon in prison, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Kareem Davis, 23, was sentenced to 9 months in federal prison by U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty. Pursuant to federal law, the 9 month prison term must be served consecutive to the 108 month prison term Davis is presently serving for a kidnapping which occurred in the District of Columbia in 2020.

“The defendant is a criminal who was undeterred from committing crime by his original sentence. Instead, he possessed a weapon in federal custody not just once, or twice, but a total of three times,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Rather than focusing on rehabilitation during his time at FCI Berlin, the defendant continued to put others in danger. The sentence imposed by the Court should serve as a warning to other federal defendants that you cannot threaten the safety of other inmates or the prison staff without consequences.”

On May 3, 2023, Davis was searched for weapons while serving an ongoing sentence at FCI Berlin.  Davis admitted to corrections officers that he possessed a “shank,” and correctional officers subsequently recovered a toothbrush sharpened to a point, with a handle fashioned out of latex gloves from Davis. This was the third incident where Davis was found to be in possession of a weapon while in federal custody.

FCI-Berlin’s Office of the Special Investigative Supervisor led the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon prosecuted the case.  

###

CONCORD – A Manchester woman was sentenced today in federal court on drug and firearm offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

 Shannon Pellot-Sosa, 39, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty to 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On April 30, 2024, Pellot-Sosa pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

 On April 5, 2022 and April 14, 2022, law enforcement purchased methamphetamine from Pellot-Sosa and her co-defendant near Pellot-Sosa’s Manchester residence. On May 5, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Pellot-Sosa’s residence and seized approximately 612 grams of cocaine, 147 grams of methamphetamine, and 28 grams of fentanyl, along with two handguns, one of which was loaded with six rounds of ammunition.

 “The distribution of bulk quantities of drugs like methamphetamine, fentanyl, and cocaine is, on its own, a serious federal offense,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “The possession of firearms by drug dealers exponentially compounds the risks to public safety.  This office will continue to seek the heightened punishments provided by law for drug traffickers who choose to utilize guns as a tool of their trade.”

 “The FBI and our partners will not let drugs and gun violence rip apart our communities,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence puts Shannon Pellot-Sosa out of business for supplying a steady stream of methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl to anyone willing to pay for it, reaping a profit from other people’s addiction, while possessing illegal firearms.”

 The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney’s Jarad Hodes and Heather Cherniske.

 ###

CONCORD – A Guatemalan man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for stealing over $10 million from a New Hampshire-based investment company, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Roberto Montano, a/k/a Jorge Roberto Montano Midence, a/k/a Roberto Pellegrini, a/k/a Alberto Yardi, 58, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty to 60 months in prison and one year of supervised release.  On February 13, 2024, Montano pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. 

“The defendant’s theft was egregious.  Over the course of several years, he stole more than $10 million and squandered the funds on a series of failed investments.  In addition, after the fraud was uncovered, the defendant fled the United States, evading law enforcement for almost a decade before he was arrested,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “This conviction and sentence underscore that this office and our law enforcement partners across the world will never stop to bring fraudsters to justice.”

“Robert Montano actively led his client to believe they were investing responsibly, putting their money into low-risk projects. But as his lies continued and the losses mounted to $10 million, Mr. Montano engaged in a cover-up, trying to conceal this staggering fraud before fleeing the U.S.,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Simply put, this case is about greed and the serious abuse of trust. Today’s sentence holds Mr. Montano accountable for his clear disdain for the law, and highlight’s the FBI’s determination to bring financial fraudsters like him to justice, no matter where in the world they try to hide.”

           Montano is a Guatemalan citizen who managed two forestry projects in Guatemala for a New Hampshire-based investment adviser between 2007 and 2014.  Beginning in approximately late 2009, Montano embezzled the projects' funds by (1) diverting cash and concealing the diversions using altered bank and financial statements; (2) mortgaging the projects’ properties without authorization and investing the proceeds in failed business ventures; and (3) stealing teak forestry subsidies paid by the Guatemalan government.  To conceal his embezzlement, Montano altered or deleted entries in financial statements and moved funds back-and-forth between accounts during audits.  For example, the defendant provided the victim a false bank statement reporting that one of the bank accounts had a cash balance of approximately $1,147,604 when it actually had a zero balance.

After Montano was alerted to an investigation into the fraud in 2014, he participated in a Skype call with the victim in which he admitted to embezzling funds “many years ago.”  He admitted he “cooked the books” and “illegally” mortgaged properties.  At the time, Montano was in Miami and promised that he would travel to New England.  He also said he would not flee and added, “If I have to go to prison, I’ll go to prison.”

Montano instead fled the United States for Guatemala.  While in Guatemala, the defendant participated in another call with the victim where he again admitted to embezzlement and fraud totaling approximately $10 million.  However, the defendant was also wanted by Guatemalan authorities, and he moved to Nicaragua, where he has been living for several years under an alias.  Most recently, Montano was known as “Alberto Yardi,” a purported life coach and yoga instructor. 

Since 2014, the FBI was actively engaged in efforts to locate and arrest Montano.  In 2022, the FBI received multiple reports that Montano was living in a resort town on the Pacific Coast in Nicaragua.  After that, Montano agreed to meet with federal agents at the airport in Managua, Nicaragua, and flew to Miami International Airport.  Once he was arrested in Miami, Montano provided law enforcement a five-page document admitting his guilt.  The first two sentences read, “I am guilty.  I abused the trust [the victim] placed in me.”

After Montano completes his sentence in the United States, he faces deportation to Guatemala, where he is charged with additional offenses.

The FBI led the investigation.  Valuable assistance was provided by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Republic of Guatemala, the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Panama City, Panama, the FBI Miami Field Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. State Department, specifically the U.S. Embassy in Managua, Nicaragua, and the Embassy of Italy in Managua, Nicaragua.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

 ###

CONCORD – A former Keene woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to stealing almost $500,000 from her employer between 2015 and 2021, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

 Stephanie Pratt, 39, pleaded guilty to wire fraud.  U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for November 12, 2024.

 Pratt was the office administrator for a company based in Hinsdale, New Hampshire.  She had full access to the company’s finances, including its bank accounts and credit cards.  Over the course of six-and-a-half years, Pratt stole $492,325.34 from the company.  She cashed unauthorized checks to herself and entered them as payments to legitimate vendors in the company’s accounting system.  Pratt also used the company’s credit cards to make over 1,000 unauthorized personal purchases, including for items like plane tickets, a smart TV, a hot tub, Patriots tickets, and miscellaneous herbs and spices.  She concealed the fraudulent credit card purchases by deleting them on credit card statements her employer received.

 The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

 The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.

 ###

CONCORD – A Salem man was sentenced today in federal court for drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

 Todd Mobley, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 60 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. On April 15, 2024, Mr. Mobley pled guilty to four counts of distribution of controlled substances, namely methamphetamine, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine and cocaine.

 “Today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable for trafficking dangerous narcotics in our state and puts an end to his drug dealing activities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “We remain committed to working with our federal, state, and county law enforcement partners to stem the sale of illegal narcotics in our communities.”

Between May 22, 2023 and June 26, 2023, Mobley sold a total of more than 534 grams of methamphetamine on four occasions. On July 10, 2023, he was arrested en route to another sale. On July 11, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant and recovered more than 890 grams of methamphetamine in the defendant’s vehicle and 84 grams of cocaine in the defendant’s storage unit.

            The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Strelzin prosecuted the case.

 ###

CONCORD – An inmate of the Belknap County jail who fled from a hospital where he was receiving medical treatment was arrested by the U.S. Marshals this morning in South Boston, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. 

           Anthony Clark, 41, was charged by complaint on August 1, 2024, with one count of violating the Fugitive Felon Act.  Clark was arrested in South Boston this morning and will appear in federal court in Concord at noon today.

           According to the charging documents, Clark was an inmate at the Belknap County jail on pretrial detention.  He was facing trial on state charges, including assault, domestic violence, strangulation, witness tampering, and violating a protective order.  In July 2024, he was released on conditions to the Concord Hospital in Laconia, New Hampshire, for medical procedures.  Clark had an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor his location.

           At approximately 10 p.m. on Sunday, July 28, the Laconia Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen who found an ankle bracelet on High Street near the Concord Hospital.  Law enforcement confirmed that the bracelet belonged to Clark.  Footage from Concord Hospital confirmed that Clark fled the area of the hospital at around 1 a.m. that day.  When the ankle bracelet was removed from Clark there was a tamper alert, but it had gone undetected.

           The U.S. Marshals arrested Clark.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.

 ###

CONCORD – A Salem man was indicted in connection with firearm offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Daniel Fratus, 38, was indicted on one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person and one count of possession of unregistered firearms. Fratus appeared in federal court today and was detained.

According to the charging documents, on January 23, 2024, Fratus possessed two silencers and a total of nine guns: five rifles, three pistols, and one sawed-off shotgun.  As a previously convicted felon, Fratus was prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.  Additionally, the two silencers and four of the nine firearms were unregistered weapons.

The charge of possession of firearms by a prohibited person provides for a maximum sentence of up to fifteen years in prison, up to a three-year term of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.  The charge of possession of unregistered firearms provides for a sentence of no greater than ten years in prison, up to a three-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Salem Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon is prosecuting the case.  

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

CONCORD –A former Massachusetts school employee was charged by indictment in federal court in Concord for transporting a former student to New Hampshire to engage in unlawful sexual conduct, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Jesus Moore, 35, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of transportation to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. Moore self-surrendered and appeared in federal court today. He was released on conditions.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on or about March 7, 2022, Moore transported a former student at the school which employed Moore. At the time, the former student was under 18. The former student was transported across state lines to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. 

The Department of Homeland Security, the Lawrence Police Department, and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski is prosecuting the case.

In February 2006, the Department of Justice introduced Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

An indictment is merely an allegation and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

###

The Justice Department today filed a statement of interest in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire supporting the right of private plaintiffs to bring a lawsuit challenging robocalls as intimidating, threatening or coercive in violation of Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act. This brief is one of several filed by the Justice Department explaining the prohibition against voter intimidation in Section 11(b) and supporting the longstanding principle that private plaintiffs can sue to vindicate important rights protected by the Voting Rights Act.

“Voter intimidation, whether carried out in person or by way of robocalls, disinformation campaigns, or other tactics, can stand as a significant barrier for voters seeking to exercise their voice in our democracy,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Every voter has the fundamental right to cast their ballot free from intimidation, threats and coercion. Since enactment of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, impacted voters, advocacy groups and organizations, have had full ability to turn to the courts to enforce the Act’s ban on voter intimidation across the country. The Justice Department has vigorously enforced this ban and will continue to challenge voter intimidation and defend the right of private citizens and organizations to do the same.”

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Hampshire remains committed to protecting voting rights using all enforcement tools available to us. Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act is a valuable aid in this effort, as it allows for voters to assist in the enforcement process by bringing private suits against anyone that intimidates, threatens or coerces another person in the exercise of their fundamental right to vote,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young for the District of New Hampshire. “Robocalls in particular can violate voting rights by incentivizing voters to remain away from the polls, deceive voters into believing false information and provoke fear among the targeted individuals. The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends any private citizen willing to stand up against these aggressive tactics and exercise their rights to participate in the enforcement process for the Voting Rights Act.”

The department filed its statement of interest in League of Women Voters of New Hampshire v. Kramer, a lawsuit filed by private plaintiffs who seek a preliminary injunction against a violation of Section 11(b) in connection with robocalls in the 2024 New Hampshire presidential primary election. Defendants moved to dismiss arguing among other things that there is no private right of action under Section 11(b) and that robocalls do not violate Section 11(b).

The statement of interest affirms that private parties may enforce Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act. It further explains that conduct violates Section 11(b) if it is objectively intimidating, threatening or coercive to a reasonable voter. That conduct may include robocalls containing false information about the time, place or manner of voting. Whether such robocalls violate the Voting Rights Act depends on such factors as the content and any deceptive features of the calls, the context and timing of the calls, the targeting of any particular group and other historical and social conditions. Federal law prohibits intimidation, threats and coercion throughout the voting process, including registration, casting a ballot and counting or tallying votes. Furthermore, federal law protects against both actual and attempted intimidation, coercion and threats.

More information about voting and elections is available on the Justice Department’s website at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Individuals can report possible violations of the federal voting rights laws through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone toll-free at 800-253-3931.

CONCORD – A man distributing methamphetamine in Rochester was sentenced today in federal court to 7 years imprisonment, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Felix Urrutia, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 84 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 28, 2024, Mr. Urrutia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine. The defendant’s co-conspirator, Haley Cahill, pled guilty on May 31, 2024. She is scheduled for sentencing on September 10, 2024.

“The defendant was a large-volume methamphetamine dealer in the Rochester area. His disregard for the welfare of others by pumping poison into the community was exacerbated by his possession of a firearm,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to drug dealers that conduct like the defendant’s will result in significant incarceration.”

“Like other drug traffickers, Felix Urrutia had no regard for the harm he caused in his community,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Getting dangerous drugs like methamphetamine off the street, and illegal firearms out of criminals’ hands, is a step toward making New Hampshire safer. The FBI’s Major Offender Task Force will continue to work on behalf of all the good, law-abiding folks who live here.”

On four occasions between July and October 2023, Ms. Cahill supplied methamphetamine to Mr. Urrutia, who then sold the methamphetamine to a confidential source.  The total amount of the methamphetamine sold by the defendant was approximately 238 grams. Investigators uncovered the conspiracy through surveillance of Ms. Cahill, who left her home and met with Mr. Urrutia prior to drug transactions between Mr. Urrutia and the confidential source. In November 2023, investigators executed a search warrant of Mr. Urrutia’s motel room and recovered a firearm. Mr. Urrutia sold the methamphetamine from that motel room during the investigation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. The Major Offender Task Force is comprised of federal agents partnered with law enforcement officers from police departments state-wide. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover and Rochester Police Departments, the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske prosecuted the case.

###

CONCORD – A former Grantham man and current resident of Holly Springs, North Carolina, was sentenced today in Concord for embezzling almost $240,000 from LISTEN Community Services (LISTEN), an Upper Valley charity that offers multiple services for vulnerable individuals, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Kyle Fisher, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 21 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. The defendant was ordered to pay $239,297.09 in restitution. On February 17, 2024, Fisher pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. 

“The defendant stole almost a quarter million dollars from a charity that provides services for vulnerable people,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “Every dollar the defendant stole was a dollar denied to those in need of food, shelter, or education.  The defendant’s gambling away the money he so brazenly stole at a casino only compounded his reprehensible conduct. I hope today’s sentence helps LISTEN and the community it serves begin the first step in their healing process.”

“Kyle Fisher not only cheated the charity he worked for by stealing almost a quarter-million dollars, but he also tried to conceal his criminal cash flow before gambling it away.  There’s no question what Mr. Fisher did deprived our neighbors in the Upper Valley of much needed assistance with food, housing, heating, and education,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Embezzlement schemes like this can be simply devastating for the victims which is why the FBI is committed to bringing financial fraud to light and perpetrators like Mr. Fisher to justice.”

Fisher was the Executive Director of LISTEN from approximately August 2016 - October 2022.  As Executive Director, Fisher had full access to LISTEN’s finances, including its bank account and PayPal account, which it used to collect donations.  Fisher made unauthorized transfers from LISTEN’s bank accounts and PayPal to accounts he controlled.  He also wrote eight unauthorized checks payable to himself.  Fisher then spent the stolen funds on personal expenses, primarily gambling at a casino in Springfield, Massachusetts.

For example, on January 24, 2022, Fisher withdrew $4,787 from LISTEN’s PayPal account and transferred the funds to his personal bank account.  Later that same day, Fisher made multiple withdrawals from his bank account, including at ATMs at the casino.  He then deposited a substantial amount of cash into his personal casino account that day.  The casino records showed that Fisher continuously gambled on January 24, 2022 and January 25, 2022, and lost a combined $6,719 over those two days.

Fisher also took steps to conceal his embezzlement from LISTEN.  For example, he created a fake PayPal statement that showed over $94,000 in payments to Dell.  Fisher also provided fraudulent invoices to LISTEN.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lebanon Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

###

CONCORD – A Nashua man pleaded guilty today in federal court to firearm offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Robert Reidy, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person and one count of possession of unregistered firearms. U.S. District Court Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for October 29, 2024.

On December 5, 2023, members of the Nashua Police Department arrived at Reidy’s residence to execute a state search warrant. Reidy refused multiple commands to exit his residence, and ultimately surrendered after chemical munitions were deployed into his residence.  Reidy admitted to possessing “ghost guns.” Law enforcement ultimately located one short-barreled AR-style rifle with a silencer threaded onto the barrel, three additional disassembled firearms hidden in the attic that all appeared to be privately manufactured, as well as 160 rounds of ammunition. Reidy was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition by virtue of a prior felony conviction for Escape from a Penal Institution in 2017. Reidy also did not register the short-barreled rifle or silencer as required by the National Firearm Act.

The charge of possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person provides for a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to a 3-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of possession of unregistered firearms provides for a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to a 3-year term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

###

CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today in federal court to a firearm offense, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Monytung Maker, a/k/a “MoSavage”, 27, pleaded guilty to being a prohibited person in possession of firearms and ammunition.  U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for October 29, 2024.

On August 2, 2023, members of the Manchester Police Department executed a search warrant at Maker’s Manchester apartment in connection to a drug investigation. During the search, law enforcement found a backpack in Maker’s bedroom containing his bank cards and a 9mm pistol loaded with eight rounds of 9mm ammunition. Maker later admitted to law enforcement that he possessed this firearm for protection. Maker was prohibited from owning or possessing firearms and ammunition by virtue of a prior felony convicted for unlawful possession of a handgun without a permit in 2019.

The charging statute provides for a maximum sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to a three-year term of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Manchester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

###

CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced today in federal court in connection to his distribution of crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, ammunition, and a machine gun conversion device (otherwise known as a “Switch”), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Joseph Taylor, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 95 months in federal prison. Taylor was sentenced to a total of 77 months on one count of drug distribution, one count of felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and one count of possession of an unregistered firearm – the Switch.  Taylor was also sentenced to a consecutive sentence of 18 months for violating the conditions of his supervised release in committing these crimes.

“The defendant, a serial felon, was undeterred by his previous federal convictions and supervised release,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Taylor’s drug sales coupled with his illegal possession of firearms, ammunition, and a Switch has resulted in his incarceration in federal prison for more than 7 years, thus protecting the community from his unrelenting criminal conduct.”  

"Possession of firearms by convicted felons is inherently dangerous for society," said Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson, ATF Boston Field Division. "But that danger increases exponentially when prohibited individuals possess firearms containing switches that convert semi-automatic weapons into machine guns. Within a matter of a few seconds, such firearms can fire multiple rounds with a single squeeze of the trigger. Today’s sentence should send a clear message that anyone who possesses a machine gun conversion device will be prosecuted federally and face serious consequences."

On three occasions in November 2023 and January 2024, Taylor sold crack cocaine to an individual who was cooperating with the Manchester Police Department. When law enforcement searched Taylor’s residence, they found money that had been used in the controlled buys, four firearms, ammunition, magazines and other firearm accessories, and a 3D-printed Switch. One of the firearms had previously been reported to the Manchester Police Department as stolen. Taylor did not register the machine gun conversion device (Switch) on the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR) as required by the National Firearms Act. Taylor had previously been convicted of four felonies and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.  At the time he committed these crimes, Taylor was on supervised release for a prior federal conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter and John Kennedy prosecuted the case.

###

CONCORD – An Arizona man distributing methamphetamine shipped through the United State Postal Service (USPS) into New Hampshire was sentenced today in federal court in Concord to 90 months’ imprisonment, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Michael Bowling, 49, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 90 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On April 11, 2024, Bowling pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and two counts of distribution of methamphetamine.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal investigative partners have dedicated significant resources to stopping the flow of drugs into to New Hampshire through the mail,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The lengthy prison sentence imposed today by the Court reflects the seriousness of using federal assets to aid in illegal drug distribution. Anyone transporting poisonous drugs using USPS should think again. Law enforcement is watching and poised to take action.”

“As methamphetamine seizures are on the rise, DEA stands committed to keeping this highly addictive drug out of New Hampshire,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge, Stephen P. Belleau, DEA New England Field Division. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Bowling accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those who attempt to bring this poison to the Granite State. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

“Today’s sentencing should send a clear message that using the U.S. Mail to facilitate drug trafficking activities will not be tolerated,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “This successful investigation is a result of strong partnerships both within the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and with our local and federal law enforcement partners.”

In 2021, the defendant mailed packages of methamphetamine from Arizona into New Hampshire, using fictitious return addresses to thwart law enforcement from identifying him as the supplier. Despite his efforts, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized three packages of methamphetamine sent by the defendant to his Lakes Region co-conspirators, containing over 600 grams of methamphetamine. Law enforcement arrested the defendant in his Arizona home, where he admitted to mailing the methamphetamine to New Hampshire.

The New Hampshire USPIS and DEA Manchester District Office led the drug investigation, in partnership with the USPIS Phoenix Division and DEA Phoenix Field Division I. The Meredith Police Department, Belknap County Drug Task Force, New Hampshire State Police, and the USPIS Denver, Washington, and Fort Worth Divisions provided valuable assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Heather A. Cherniske prosecuted the case.

###

CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced today in federal court for distribution of fentanyl and crack cocaine, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Walter Velez, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 48 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised released. On April 2, 2024, Velez pleaded guilty to four counts of distribution of controlled substances, namely fentanyl and crack cocaine.

 In April 2023, Velez sold fentanyl and crack cocaine to a confidential informant on four occasions at his then business, Velez Alignment & Auto Services, LLC, located at 416 Lake Avenue in Manchester. The four sales totaled over 200 grams of fentanyl and over 20 grams of crack cocaine.

“The defendant distributed a significant amount of drugs from his business, which was located in a densely populated neighborhood,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Law enforcement in the Granite State remains committed to thwarting out drug dealers at every level in the supply chain to hold them accountable for selling dangerous narcotics and to eradicate drug trafficking in our neighborhoods.”

“Velez was caught selling crack cocaine and fentanyl, two deadly drugs that have caused havoc and destruction for too many families in New Hampshire. Today’s sentence puts an end to Velez’s drug dealing. HSI continues to work with our partners in New Hampshire to stop the trafficking and distribution of drugs into our communities,” said HSI New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol.

The Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward prosecuted the case.

###

CONCORD – A Dominican man was arrested in connection with a drug trafficking offense, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Maikol Yordan Saldivar-Diaz, 28, was charged by complaint with one count of Distribution of Controlled Substances, namely fentanyl and methamphetamine. Saldivar-Diaz was arrested on July 17, 2024, and will appear in federal court in Concord on July 19, 2024.

According to the charging documents, Portsmouth Housing Authority notified Portsmouth Police Department of consistent drug activity at the Gosling Meadows Housing Development in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Investigators were subsequently able to identify Saldivar-Diaz as the source of this drug activity.  On three occasions in June and July of 2024, Saldivar-Diaz sold controlled substances to a confidential informant.  The first two sales were for a quantity of suspected fentanyl, and the third sale was for a quantity of suspected methamphetamine.

Portsmouth Police Department led the investigation. The Drug Enforcement Administration provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Scanlon is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

CONCORD – A Exeter man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possession of child sexual abuse materials, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Nathan Kohler, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of Possession of Child Pornography.  U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for October 17, 2024.

On January 2, 2023, and again on February 14, 2023, the NH Internet Crimes Against Children (“ICAC”) Task Force’s BitTorrent software identified a target IP address making child sexual abuse material (“CSAM”) available for download through the Peer-to-Peer (“P2P”) network BitTorrent.  Further investigation identified the defendant’s residence in Exeter, New Hampshire as the subscriber of the target IP address. 

On April 5, 2023, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at the defendant’s residence.  During that search, law enforcement seized a Dell laptop computer from the defendant’s bedroom, containing approximately 2,000 images of CSAM and two video files.  Numerous images depicted prepubescent minors, or minors who had not attained 12 years of age. 

During an interview with law enforcement, the defendant admitted that he was the individual who has been using the internet in the residence to download CSAM and has been engaged in such activity for a number of years. The defendant stated that he used his laptop computer which was located in his bedroom to access CSAM.

The charge of Possession of Child Pornography provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a minimum of 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Exeter Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. 

###

CONCORD – A Manchester man has been charged in connection with operating a counterfeit pill pressing scheme, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Jerry Summers, 44, of Manchester, was charged by complaint with one count of manufacturing a controlled substance, containing fentanyl and methamphetamine, two counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and trafficking in a drug and using a counterfeit drug mark on or in connection with such drug. The defendant’s next scheduled hearing is July 8, 2024.

According to the charging documents, after a multi-month federal and state investigation, on July 1, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Clandestine Laboratory Team executed a federal search warrant of Summer’s Manchester office suite, rented under the name of “Summertime Drywall and Maintenance LLC.” During the search, DEA agents located a pill press that was covered in powdered residue and wrapped in soundproofing material, and large amounts of colored press tablets. A drug test revealed the presence of fentanyl and amphetamines on the residue found on and around the pill press.

On two prior occasions, Summers sold pills to a confidential informant.  During the first sale, which occurred on March 21, 2024, Summers sold a quantity of blue pills that were marked as being OxyContin but later tested positive for fentanyl.  During the second sale, on April 10, 2024, Summer sold a quantity of blue pills that were marked as being OxyContin but later tested positive for fentanyl as well as a quantity of orange pills that were marked as being Adderall but later tested positive for methamphetamine.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W.R. Ward is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

CONCORD – Catholic Medical Center (CMC) in Manchester agreed to pay $300,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by failing to keep accurate records of controlled substances, including opioids, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

The CSA deters the illegal distribution, possession, dispensing, and improper use of controlled substances. The CSA requires the accurate inventorying, tracking and recordkeeping of controlled substances to prevent misuse.

“The CSA created a ‘closed system’ of controlled substance distribution so the DEA can better monitor the movement of prescription drugs to end users. The requirement to keep complete and accurate records is crucial for accountability and transparency. In this case, an independent, certified registered nurse anesthetist was able to steal controlled substances almost every day she worked over the course of a year. Her thefts should have been detected before she was able to steal hundreds of doses of fentanyl. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate these cases to ensure that hospitals abide by the regulations of the CSA,” said U.S. Attorney Jane Young.

“DEA registrants are responsible for handling-controlled substances responsibly and ensuring that complete and accurate records are being properly kept and accounted for in compliance with the Controlled Substance Act,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division. “We are committed to working with our law enforcement and regulatory partners to ensure that these rules and regulations are followed.”

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation after CMC reported that an independent, certified registered nurse anesthetist, Robin Nichols, had tampered with and diverted liquid fentanyl, a narcotic painkiller drug. On June 12, 2024, Nichols pled guilty to tampering with consumer products. Nichols admitted that on April 15, 2023, while working as a nurse at CMC, she removed a quantity of fentanyl from a syringe intended for an operating room patient and which she knew was intended for that patient. Nichols replaced the fentanyl with a quantity of liquid saline and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). She also admitted to diverting the fentanyl for her own use.

The Investigation revealed that Nichols stole controlled substances approximately once every day that she worked for a year. One of the ways she diverted was by stealing fentanyl leftover from medical procedures, instead of safely discarding it. This action by Nichols resulted in the creation and retention of false wasting records. Therefore, the investigation revealed CMC’s failure to keep accurate and complete wasting records.

The DEA also completed an audit of CMC’s records which found that the records did not accurately reflect CMC’s inventory for seven controlled substances, including fentanyl, because CMC possessed greater quantities than its records indicated for those drugs. The DEA also found that CMC did not have effective controls and procedures in place to guard against the theft and diversion of controlled substances.

CMC did not admit to liability. CMC fully cooperated with the government’s investigation and has taken significant steps to improve its controls and procedures against future theft and diversion of controlled substances.

The DEA led the investigation leading to the settlement agreement. The case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raphael Katz.

CONCORD – A Pelham woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to making a false statement to acquire a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Rebecca Aubuchont, 28, pleaded guilty to making a false statement in connection with acquiring a firearm for her then-partner, James Aubuchont.  U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for October 17, 2024.  James pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of two firearms and ammunition on June 13, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 20, 2024.

In July 2023, a state warrant was issued for James’s arrest in connection with an aggravated felonious sexual assault.  Law enforcement arrested him on July 12, 2023, near the Flat Mountain Pond Shelter in the White Mountains.  During a recorded jailhouse call, James asked Rebecca to retrieve his two “fishing rods” from the campsite, including one that “we got from VJ, remember the one you bought?”  Three days later, law enforcement recovered a rifle and pistol from James’s campsite, along with over 2,000 rounds of ammunition.  Rebecca had purchased the rifle from a firearms dealer operated by an individual with the first and middle initials V.J. with the intention of giving the gun to James.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms led the investigation.  The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Forest Service provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Tiffany A. Scanlon are prosecuting the case.   

###

CONCORD – A Sierra Leone man pleaded guilty today in federal court to orchestrating a fraudulent car loan scheme, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

            Solomon Yarteh, 50, pleaded guilty to three counts of bank fraud.  U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for October 7, 2024.  Co-defendants Donna Silva, Niurka Lebron, and Robosteur St. Felix previously all pled guilty and were sentenced in 2022.

            Yarteh was the owner and President of Allied Imports, a car wholesaler located in Manchester.  As a wholesaler, Allied Imports was not licensed to conduct retail sales of vehicles and could only sell to dealers.  Allied Imports was located next to Cap’s Auto Sales, a business licensed to sell cars.  Cap’s Auto was controlled by St. Felix.

            Between February 2019 and July 2019, Yarteh led a scheme to fraudulently obtain multiple car loans from multiple financial institutions.  The loans were supposed to be secured by vehicles being sold by Allied Imports or Cap’s Auto.  Yarteh and his co-conspirators used fraudulent documents to trick lenders into believing that Allied Imports or Cap’s Auto owned and held title to the vehicles when the cars actually belonged to other companies.  The loan proceeds were deposited into accounts Yarteh controlled.  Yarteh was able to fraudulently obtain over $430,000 through this scheme.

            Yarteh was originally indicted in 2021, but had already left the United States.  INTERPOL then issued a red notice for his arrest.  In spring 2023, authorities in the United Arab Emirates arrested Yarteh in Dubai.  With the cooperation of the Emirati government, Yarteh was removed to the United States in late November 2023.  He has continuously been in custody since.  

            The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

            The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and United States Postal Inspection Service.  The New Hampshire Banking Department, INTERPOL, Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and Government of the United Arab Emirates provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Charles L. Rombeau are prosecuting the case.  

###

CONCORD – A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in federal court to defrauding a nonprofit health care provider to obtain funds designated for reducing suicide rates among veterans, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

            David Duren, a/k/a Dawud Hakiem Duren, 48, pleaded guilty to wire fraud.  U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2024.

            Duren was a program manager for a nonprofit health care provider in Nashua, New Hampshire.  He was in charge of overseeing a program funded by a $750,000 Staff Sergeant Fox Suicide Prevention Grant.  The grant was awarded by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to provide treatment and services to veterans at risk of suicide.  At Duren’s recommendation, the health care provider hired a company called “E3 Foundation” to provide services funded by the Staff Sergeant Fox grant.  E3 Foundation was in turn purportedly led by a “Dr. Michael Rapp.”  However, unbeknownst to the health care provider, Duren controlled E3 Foundation and was pretending to be “Dr. Michael Rapp” on emails and calls.

            Duren was able to fraudulently obtain almost $50,000 in Staff Sergeant Fox program funds and tried to obtain an additional $25,000 before being discovered.  He used a website called “Invoice Generator” to create fake invoices.  Duren and E3 Foundation also did not provide the services and products that he billed for.

            The charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

            The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General and Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. 

###

CONCORD – A former Belmont man was sentenced today in federal court in connection with his possession of firearms as a prohibited person, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

            Justin Gebo, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul P. Barbadoro to 33 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release on two counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, including being in possession of a firearm while under indictment and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

            “This case makes clear why felons cannot be trusted to possess firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “The defendant’s unlawful receipt of the CZ Scorpion during a time he was under felony indictment was the beginning of that firearm’s path to the hands of a convicted felony where it was used to commit heinous crimes.  The sentence imposed by the Court makes clear the significant consequences for those prohibited persons who possess guns.”

            According to the charging documents, on or about January 1, 2023, Gebo was in receipt of a Ceska Zrojovka (“CZ”) model Scorpion EVO 3, S2, 9x19mm short-barreled rifle, with an attached armbrace, while he was under felony indictment for a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. That firearm was later recovered during a homicide investigation on June 3, 2023, in Franklin, New Hampshire.  In addition, on or about February 3, 2023, Gebo was in possession of a 17 Design and Manufacturing, model 17DM-15, multicaliber rifle, after he had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

            The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police and the Laconia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey W.R. Ward is prosecuting the case.

            This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

###

CONCORD – A Rochester man was sentenced today in federal court for submitting fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief funds using stolen identities and for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

         Heath Gauthier, 48, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Laplante to 145 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $202,507 in restitution with $196,507 being paid to the Small Business Administration and $6,000 to two CSAM survivors.

         On February 22, 2024, Gauthier pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of attempted wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and one count of possession of child pornography. 

         “The defendant possessed more than one thousand images of child sex abuse material and stole people’s identities to submit numerous fraudulent applications for COVID relief funds intended for individuals and businesses who suffered financial harm as a result of the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendant not only stole of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars and undermined the public confidence in pandemic relief programs, but also preyed on the most vulnerable members of society-children. The sentence imposed today sends a clear message that those who possess child sex abuse material or steal from taxpayers will be incarcerated in federal prison for long periods of time.”

           “What Heath Gauthier did is disgraceful. This convicted sex offender possessed more than 1,500 images of child sexual abuse material on his computer and stole the identities of more than 10 dead people so he could blatantly defraud a government program meant to keep businesses and workers afloat during the pandemic,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Anyone who thinks exploiting children and defrauding American taxpayers is acceptable, better think twice, because the FBI and our partners stand ready to bring you to justice.”

          “Today’s sentencing of Heath Gauthier demonstrates the IRS’s commitment to protecting the America people from all criminal maleficence,” said Special Agent in Charge, Harry T. Chavis Jr., IRS Criminal Investigation Boston Field Office. “Gauthier not only stole the identities of innocent people in order to misappropriate pandemic relief funds, but he also took advantage of the most innocent people, children. IRS Criminal Investigations is committed to protecting all Americans, especially the most vulnerable, from those seeking to do them harm.” 

          Between February 2020 and March 2021, Gauthier fraudulently applied for more than a dozen loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. Gauthier applied for loans for non-existent companies and used the identities of more than ten deceased individuals in his applications, listing them in some applications as owners or employees of the fictitious companies.  He also submitted false documents, including fabricated tax documents and counterfeit driver’s licenses to support his fraudulent applications.  In total Gauthier applied for more than $1 million in CARES Act loan funds.

          On February 16, 2023, investigators executed a search warrant on his residence, where they seized and later searched Gauthier’s electronic devices.  During the search, investigators discovered more than 1,500 files that contained CSAM.

          IRS Criminal Investigations and the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the Social Security Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Hunter and Kasey Weiland prosecuted the case.  

          This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

            During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  Private lenders could participate in the PPP.  The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government.  If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness.  The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.  As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage.

            On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

            Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

###

CONCORD – A Sanbornton man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Timothy Ryan, 35, pleaded guilty to a superseding information charging him with an additional count of possession of CSAM, for a total of two counts of possession of CSAM. On December 12, 2022, Ryan was originally charged by complaint with one count of possession of CSAM.  U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for October 8, 2024.

The defendant was identified as a top offender in the state of New Hampshire for supplying CSAM through the peer-to-peer network BitTorrent.  Investigators traced the illicit internet activity to his residence. On December 13, 2022, a federal search warrant was executed on search his electronic devices.  Forensic examination of the defendant’s cell phone revealed the presence of approximately 2,600 files of apparent CSAM. 

In November 2023, while Ryan was on bond for his original federal CSAM charge, investigators with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs received information that an IP address associated with one of its residential facilities in Massachusetts was being used regularly to distribute known CSAM on the BitTorrent network.  Further investigation revealed that Ryan had moved into that facility around the same time that the illicit activity was first observed.  In December 2023, federal authorities executed a second search warrant for Ryan’s private room at the facility, resulting in the seizure of more electronic devices containing hundreds of images of CSAM.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum 5 years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and mandatory restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Homeland Security Investigations and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Secret Service, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Nashua Police Department, the Grafton County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sanbornton Police Department and the U.S. Veterans Affairs Police Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

###

CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty in federal court in connection to his distribution of fentanyl, his possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and his being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Victor Rosario, 30, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl, one count of felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for October 11, 2024.

Between December 2023 – January 2024, on four occasions Rosario sold fentanyl to an individual who was cooperating with the Manchester Police Department. During the fourth sale, Rosario also sold the cooperating individual an AK-style rifle. When law enforcement searched Rosario’s residence and vehicle on January 17, 2024, they found more drugs, including more than 300 grams of fentanyl and more than 1,000 grams of cocaine.

The charge of drug distribution and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.  The charge of felon in possession of a firearm provides for a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Hunter and Kasey Weiland are prosecuting the case.

###

CONCORD – A former Franklin man was sentenced today in federal court in connection with his online activities while under court supervision, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Zachary Cote, 26, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Samantha Elliott to 18 months in federal prison for contempt based on his violation of the Court’s order setting his conditions of release, which included that he not commit any violations of state or federal law and that he refrain from possessing computers or accessing the internet. His sentenced is to be served consecutively to the 60 months he is currently serving for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).  

“The defendant flagrantly violated his conditions of release after his sentencing for possessing CSAM,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “While the Court’s conditions of bail did not deter the defendant’s criminal conduct, the additional 18 months in prison will.”

“The fact that this sex offender continued to engage in criminal conduct while waiting to head to prison is deeply concerning, and demonstrates a blatant disrespect for the law,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “It is our hope that with today’s sentence, Zachary Cote learns his lesson.”

Cote pled guilty to possession of CSAM on September 20, 2021.  During a November 2020 detention hearing following his arrest in that case, a magistrate judge ordered Cote released subject to certain conditions, including the condition that he not commit any violations of state or federal law and that he refrain from possessing computers or accessing the internet. Cote was later sentenced to 60 months on the CSAM charge on January 24, 2022 and surrendered to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence on March 4, 2022.

After Cote had been sentenced but before he surrendered to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, federal authorities received a CyberTip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) which indicated that a user on the social media platform Snapchat had uploaded two images of apparent CSAM in February 2022.  The IP address associated with the illicit activity resolved to Cote’s residence and Cote was ultimately identified as the user of the account.  He remains in the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

###

CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today in federal court to a child exploitation offense, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Philip Longeway, 52, pleaded guilty to accessing with intent to view child sexual abuse material (CSAM).  U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 26, 2024.   

Longeway is a sex offender based on a 2006 conviction for travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.  While on federal supervised release in connection with that case, Longeway’s internet activity was monitored through the use of special software.  That software captured chat communications between Longeway and an individual who stated that he was fifteen years old (referred to in Court documents as “John Doe”).  The monitoring software also captured screenshots of John Doe engaging in a sexual act for Longeway during a Zoom video call on two separate occasions.  John Doe was later identified as a fifteen-year-old child in New Jersey.

Due to Longeway’s status as a repeat offender, the charging statute provides a sentence of not less than 10 years and not more than 20 years of imprisonment, at least 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

###

CONCORD – A Portsmouth man pleaded guilty today in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Joshua Linane, 42, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for October 10, 2024.

On October 14, 2022, Linane sold a Ruger Speed-Six .357 Magnum revolver to a confidential source.  At the time, Linane was a convicted felon.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.  The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearm and Explosives provided substantial assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

###

CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young joined a multitude of national, state, local, and Tribal leaders today in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and to increase understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.

“Throughout the month of June, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has focused on raising awareness of financial exploitation and other fraud schemes targeting senior members of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Our message to the public throughout our engagement on social media and at external events has been clear: (1) if something sounds too good to be true then it is too good to be true; (2) NEVER give out your personal identifying information, including your date of birth, social security number or Medicare number, to someone you do not know; (3) if something feels off to you in a conversation - whether in person, online, or on the phone - do not be afraid to end the interaction and verify the information. Finally, please never feel ashamed or embarrassed if you are the victim of one of these crimes. Fraudsters are skilled and know exactly what to do to steal your hard-earned savings. Reporting any suspected abuse to law enforcement may be helpful in ensuring that no one else is victimized.”

“On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day above all else, we want seniors and their families to know that you are not alone, and help is available if you or your loved ones are the victim of fraud or scams,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England. “HSI is proud to work with the Unites States Attorney’s Office in New Hampshire and our partners across the United States to fight Elder Fraud and other forms of abuse perpetrated against seniors in our communities. This effort needs help from all corners of society to succeed – public service, private sector, advocates, family, and friends. If you suspect Elder Fraud or Abuse is happening, report it.”

“Elder financial exploitation – generally involving a known person who is deceiving and manipulating an older adult to steal from them – is a multi-billion dollar, and often unreported, crime. It is important to learn how to identify the signs of financial abuse and to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones,” said Christina Fitzpatrick the AARP New Hampshire State Director. “AARP provides this information as well as guidance for people who have been targeted. Visit aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork or call our helpline to speak to a fraud specialist at 1-877-908-3360.”

Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusting relationship with the victim. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological.

Millions of older Americans become victims of financial fraud and financial exploitation each year. Scammers find and interact with their victims in public places, by knocking on their doors, and through the phone, internet, or mail. They use urgency to confuse their victims, and often request funds be transferred into cryptocurrency, gold bars, gift cards and other forms of currency that is harder to trace.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and its investigative partners work collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign and domestic-based schemes that target older Americans, such as Romance Scams, Government Impersonation Scams, Grandparent Scams, and Construction Scams. For more information on federal cases in the District of New Hampshire related to elder financial exploitation and fraud, please visit: justice.gov/usao-nh/elder-justice.

To view an Elder Fraud Public Safety Announcement by U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young and William Crogan, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Homeland Security Investigations, please visit: youtube.com/watch?v=AbsKfWC69uc

To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-1, visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov, or call Homeland Security Investigations at 877-4-HSI-TIP.

###

CONCORD – A Groveton man was arrested on a complaint charging a federal child exploitation offense, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Brandon Couture, 38, was charged with one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. Couture was arrested on June 13, 2024, and will appear in federal court in Concord later today.

According to the charging documents, Couture traveled from New Hampshire to Vermont where he picked up the minor female survivor and drove her back to New Hampshire with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity with her.

The charging statute provides a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison, with a maximum sentence of life in prison.  In addition, the charging statute provides for a minimum of five years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The Northumberland Police Department and the Essex County, Vermont Sheriff’s Department provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.  

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. 

###

CONCORD – A former Manchester man pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

James Aubuchont, 52, pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of two firearms and over 2,000 rounds of ammunition.  U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 19, 2024. Aubuchont is already serving a sentence in New Hampshire state prison on other offenses.

In July 2023, a state warrant was issued for Aubuchont’s arrest in connection with an aggravated felonious sexual assault.  Law enforcement arrested him on July 12, 2023, near the Flat Mountain Pond Shelter in the White Mountains.  During a recorded jailhouse call, Aubuchont asked another person to retrieve his two “fishing rods” from the campsite, including one that “we got from VJ, remember the one you bought?”  Three days later, law enforcement recovered a rifle and pistol from Aubuchont’s campsite, along with over 2,000 rounds of ammunition.  The rifle had been purchased from a firearms dealer operated by an individual with the first and middle initials V.J.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms led the investigation.  The Carroll County Sheriff’s Department and U.S. Forest Service provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Tiffany A. Scanlon are prosecuting the case. 

###

CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

John Barber, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Samantha Elliott to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. The defendant was ordered to forfeit approximately $3,000. 

“The defendant possessed significant amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine that he intended to traffic into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The sentence imposed by the Court not only stops the defendant from selling drugs for the next 60 months, but it also strips from him his ill-gotten drug trafficking proceeds.”

“John Barber intended to traffic significant amounts of meth and fentanyl onto New Hampshire’s streets,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “But thankfully, the FBI’s Major Offender Task Force and the New Hampshire State Police were able to stop him. Today’s sentence puts Mr. Barber officially out of business.”

On February 23, 2022, a New Hampshire State Trooper stopped a car on Interstate 93 for a traffic violation. The defendant was a passenger in the car.  After the driver gave consent to search the car, law enforcement officers found numerous plastic baggies, a digital scale and a locked zipper pouch in the vicinity of the defendant.  The pouch was later searched pursuant to a warrant and contained roughly 45 grams of methamphetamine and 130 grams of fentanyl.  The defendant had $2,000 in his pocket and over $1,000 in his wallet.  The defendant admitted that he intended to distribute the pouch of drugs to someone else.

On August 23, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of a camper belonging to the defendant in Manchester and found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine in a plastic bag containing other smaller baggies, in the defendant’s bedroom.  The defendant admitted the methamphetamine was his.  The method of packaging and quantity of methamphetamine is indicative of distribution.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Matthew Hunter are prosecuting the case.  

###

CONCORD – A former Derry woman was sentenced today in federal court for her role in submitting fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief funds and stealing more than $200,000 from taxpayers, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Tammy Dodge, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Paul J. Barbadoro to 12 months and 1 day in federal prison and 2 years of supervised release. On March 4, 2024, Tammy Dodge plead guilty to one count of bank fraud.  Her husband and co-conspirator, David Dodge, was sentenced to 34 months in prison on May 29, 2024.  The Dodges were ordered to pay $219,323.34 in restitution. 

“The defendant, along with her husband, submitted numerous fraudulent applications for COVID relief funds intended for individuals and businesses who suffered financial harm as a result of the pandemic,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The defendant’s fraud not only resulted in the theft of hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars, but her actions also undermined the public of its confidence in pandemic relief programs. The sentence imposed today shows that those who stole from taxpayers during the COVID pandemic face federal prison time for their crimes.”

“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates the abuse of IRS systems to defraud federal and state relief programs through fraudulent applications,” stated Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Carpenter. “In this case, the defendant diverted COVID-19 pandemic relief funds intended for legitimate businesses and their employees for personal gains.”

The Dodges claimed to own or control multiple businesses in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including Teacher Tammy (a/k/a Teacher Tammy’s), Optimized Operations, and Business Done Right.  However, these companies had no operations and served no business purpose.

The Dodges submitted dozens of fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from private lenders, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the Small Business Administration, and pandemic relief grants from the New Hampshire Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) and the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC).  To commit the fraud, the Dodges also used the Social Security Number of a minor child to apply for and obtain an Employer Identification Number from the IRS for a fictional company called Consulting Services.

The Dodges used fake supporting documents in the applications.  For example, on May 6, 2020, Tammy Dodge applied for a $30,064 PPP loan for Teacher Tammy.  She provided multiple fake supporting documents, including a fraudulent tax filing claiming she paid employees $132,000 in 2019, and a false Certificate of Formation purportedly issued by the New Hampshire Secretary of State.

Overall, because lenders detected most of the fraudulent applications, the Dodges obtained $219,323.34.  They misused the fraudulently obtained funds, including to purchase a hot tub and a diamond ring.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.

During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  Private lenders could participate in the PPP.  The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government.  If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness.  The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.  As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

###

CONCORD – A Mexican International man who crossed into New Hampshire was arrested on a complaint charging federal child pornography offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Jose Rodriguez-Garcia, 26, was charged with one count of transporting child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and one count of possessing CSAM.  Rodriguez-Garcia is scheduled to appear in federal court in Concord later today.

According to the charging documents, on June 6, 2024, Rodriguez-Garcia and another man were observed by U.S. Border Patrol agents after having apparently just crossed from Canada into New Hampshire over Hall Stream in Pittsburg.  The men were detained and brought to the Beecher Falls Border Station for processing.  At that point, a search of Rodriguez-Garcia’s person and property yielded several electronic media, including a thumb drive on which depictions of apparent CSAM were found. 

The charge of transporting CSAM provides a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years.  Both charges provide a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least 5 years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and mandatory restitution.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations within the United States Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Border Patrol.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

CONCORD – A Jaffrey man pleaded guilty today in federal court to the possession of machine guns and silencers that were not registered to him under the National Firearms Act, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Luke Czekalski, 38, pleaded guilty to possession of firearms which were not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for September 23, 2024. 

In November 2022, New Hampshire state parole officers made an unannounced visit to the defendant’s residence in Jaffrey. The defendant was on parole following his release from custody for a prior felony conviction.  While the parole officers conducted their search, they located several bins in the basement containing firearms, ammunition, loaded magazines, body armor and other miscellaneous items.  Jaffrey Police then provided additional assistance, leading to the seizure of eight homemade firearms and five homemade silencers in addition to assorted firearm ammunition.  Three of the firearms displayed fully automatic firing capabilities during test fires, thus making them “machineguns” under federal law. 

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $10,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Jaffrey Police Department led the investigation.  The New Hampshire Department of Corrections’ Division of Field Services and New Hampshire Forensic Laboratory provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.  

###

CONCORD – A Nashua man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Dwayne Frechette, 60, pleaded guilty to possessing and accessing with intent to view child pornography.  U.S. District Court Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 23, 2024.   

Frechette was identified during an undercover investigation involving a peer-to-peer network used to exchange CSAM. During the investigation, agents identified an IP address in Nashua that was using the peer-to-peer network to make images of CSAM available for others to download.  The target IP address geolocated to a restaurant in Nashua, where it was later determined that Frechette was a delivery driver.  A search warrant for the restaurant resulted in the seizure of Frechette’s cell phone, which was found to contain hundreds of cached images of CSAM.    

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least 5 years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000, and mandatory restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Homeland Security Investigations and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. The Homeland Security Investigations and the Nashua Police Department provided valuable assistance.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.

###

CONCORD – Five Rochester residents pleaded guilty this week in federal court to drug offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

The following defendants pleaded guilty to drug offenses:

1. Monty Granger, age 43, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 9, 2024.
2. Michelle Fredette-Chatman, age 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2024.
3. Edward Deal III, age 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 18, 2024.

Charged in a separate indictment, the following defendants also pleaded guilty to drug offenses:

1. Felix Urrutia, age 51, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2024.
2. Hailey Cahill, age 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for September 10, 2024.

Between October 3 and October 12, 2023, Mr. Granger sold methamphetamine to a confidential source on three occasions. On October 23, 2023, the confidential source paid Mr. Granger for another methamphetamine purchase. Therefore, Mr. Deal organized the drug transaction and Ms. Fredette-Chatman ultimately sold the methamphetamine to the confidential source.

Between July 27, 2023 and October 2023, Ms. Cahill sold methamphetamine to Mr. Urrutia on several occasions. Thereafter, Urrutia sold the methamphetamine to a confidential source. Investigators uncovered the conspiracy through surveillance of Ms. Cahill, who left her home and met with Mr. Urrutia prior to each drug transaction between Mr. Urrutia and the confidential source.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and the distribution of controlled substances provides for a sentence up to 20 years in prison, at least a three-year term of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. The Major Offender Task Force is comprised of federal agents partnered with law enforcement officers from police departments state-wide. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover and Rochester Police Departments, the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske is prosecuting the case.

###

CONCORD – An Amherst man and a Bedford woman pleaded guilty in federal court to charges arising out of their making false statements to the Veterans Administration (VA) during its investigation into StoneMakers Academy, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

David Montoya, 64, and Rhonda Simpson, 55, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to make false statements to a government agency.  U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for Simpson on September 11, 2024 and for Montoya on September 24, 2024.

Montoya was the owner and president of StoneMakers Corporation, while Simpson served as its registered agent, vice president, and in-house counsel.  From its inception, a portion of StoneMakers Corporation’s business involved marketing and selling training in its concrete landscape methods under the name StoneMakers Academy.  StoneMakers Academy was enrolled with the VA such that the VA would pay tuition and fee payments for eligible veterans under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  A school is ordinarily eligible to receive tuition payments for veteran students in a particular course only if the students receiving benefits total no more than 85% of the total amount of students who are enrolled in that course.  That is, a school is not eligible to receive tuition payments unless at least 15% of the students who are enrolled in the course are non-veterans who are not receiving discounts to their tuition.  This is commonly known as the “85-15 Rule.”  In addition, a school may not charge more for veterans to attend a course than it charges civilians to attend the same course.  Any school that violates “the same tuition rule” is subject to suspension or dismissal from the program.

In or about January 2018, the VA Office of Inspector General (VA-OIG) commenced an investigation into StoneMakers Academy’s receipt of VA tuition assistance funds for the purpose of providing education and training to eligible veterans.  The defendants took steps to conceal StoneMakers Academy’s past violations of the 85/15 Rule and same tuition rule from the VA-OIG, including through the creation of false and misleading documents to conceal the fact that past educational programs offered by StoneMakers Academy had been in violation of the 85-15 Rule. 

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The VA-OIG led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles L. Rombeau and Raphael Katz are prosecuting the case.  

###

CONCORD – A Manchester man and woman pleaded guilty in federal court to charges pertaining to the manufacturing of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Charles Winchell, age 41, and Catherine Quinn, age 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine with a child under the age of 18 present and the possession of equipment, chemicals, products and material to manufacture methamphetamine.  U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled Winchell’s sentencing for September 16, 2024 and Quinn’s sentencing for September 30, 2024.

Quinn and Winchell purchased pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter medication and the primary ingredient used for the manufacturing of methamphetamine, dozens of times in 2023. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at their Manchester residence and found pseudoephedrine and other ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine present, as well as approximately 6 grams of methamphetamine. At the time, twelve individuals lived in the home; three of them under the age of five.

The crime of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. For committing this offense with a child under the age of 18 present, the statute provides for a consecutive sentence up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. For possessing the equipment, chemicals, products, and materials to manufacture methamphetamine, the statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and no more than five years of supervised release. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske is prosecuting the case.

###

CONCORD – A former Derry man was sentenced today in federal court for submitting approximately three dozen fraudulent applications for COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

David Dodge, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 34 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.  On February 20, 2024, Dodge pleaded guilty to bank fraud.  His wife and co-conspirator, Tammy Dodge, pled guilty to bank fraud on March 4, 2024, and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2024.

“Congress passed the CARES Act to help Americans struggling during the worst health crisis in a century,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “The defendant exploited this lifeline to steal from taxpayers to buy luxury items including a diamond ring.  Today’s significant sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense and underscores that we are continuing to vigilantly prosecute pandemic relief fraud.”

“The Treasury Inspector General for Tax administration (TIGTA) aggressively investigates the abuse of IRS systems to defraud federal and state relief programs through fraudulent applications,” stated Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Carpenter. “In this case, the defendant diverted COVID-19 pandemic relief funds intended for legitimate businesses and their employees for personal gains.”

Dodge claimed to own or control multiple businesses in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, including Teacher Tammy (a/k/a Teacher Tammy’s), Optimized Operations, and Business Done Right.  However, these companies had no operations and served no business purpose.

Dodge and his wife submitted dozens of fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans from private lenders, Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) from the Small Business Administration, and pandemic relief grants from the New Hampshire Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR) and the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC).  To commit the fraud, Dodge also used the Social Security Number of a minor child to apply for and obtain an Employer Identification Number from the IRS for a fictional company called Consulting Services.

Dodge used fake supporting documents in the applications.  For example, on May 4, 2020, David Dodge applied for a $39,355 PPP loan for Optimized Operations.  He provided a “Payroll Report” purporting to show that Optimized Operations had a monthly payroll of approximately $46,000 through December 2020, seven months into the future.  Other fake documents included a doctored Limited Liability Company certificate showing that Optimized Operations was incorporated in Massachusetts in June 2016, when it did not exist on paper until May 2020.  David Dodge also provided fraudulent tax documents showing that Optimized Operations had five employees paid $45,000 each quarter.

Overall, because lenders detected most of the fraudulent applications, the Dodges obtained $219,323.34.  They misused the fraudulently obtained funds, including to purchase a hot tub and a diamond ring.

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case. 

During the early part of the coronavirus pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.  The CARES Act included multiple relief provisions to help the millions of Americans and many small businesses adversely affected by the pandemic, including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).  Private lenders could participate in the PPP.  The loans, which were supposed to be used for payroll, were fully guaranteed by the government.  If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness.  The CARES Act also opened up the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.  As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were supposed to be used for payroll and other business expenses such as rent and mortgage.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

###

CONCORD – A Texas man was indicted for his involvement in a scheme to fraudulently obtain CARES Act funds from the United States government and the State of New York, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. 

Dyetaniel Washington, 29, was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Washington was arrested in the Southern District of Texas on May 7, 2024. He appeared in federal court in Concord today, and he was released on conditions. Dyetaniel Washington and his two co-defendants, Kyereem Sackey and Jerred Beniquez, were indicted on October 25, 2023. Sackey was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of bank fraud. Beniquez was indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to the charging documents, Washington obtained Beniquez’s personal identifying information and provided this information to Sackey.  Sackey then used the information to make unemployment insurance claims in the State of New York in Beniquez’s name.  On two occasions, the money was deposited into Beniquez’s bank account, and a portion of the money was sent to Washington.

The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.   

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

###

CONCORD – A North Carolina woman pleaded guilty today in federal court to charges arising out of her embezzlement of funds from her previous employer, Farwell Funeral Service in Nashua, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

LaSaundra Simmons, 51, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.  U.S. District Court Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for August 29, 2024. 

Simmons worked as the bookkeeper for Farwell Funeral Service, Inc. for several years. Starting in 2015, and continuing until it was discovered in January 2023, Simmons employed a scheme to embezzle funds from the company. On more than 100 occasions, she either made unauthorized wire transfers of funds from the funeral home’s bank account to her own account, or drafted unauthorized checks which she deposited by electronic wire transfer into her own account. She would often describe these checks as “commissions” or “consulting fees.” She embezzled more than $500,000 over the course of the scheme.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000.  Restitution is mandatory.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.

###

CONCORD – United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces the recipients of the 2024 Law Enforcement Awards in honor of National Police Week. More than 30 federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel are being recognized for their contributions to the success of federal matters over the past year.

These awards recognize the exceptional service of federal agents along with state and local officers in eight federal criminal and civil matters. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Hampshire will host a formal ceremony to honor these individuals in September 2024.

“I’m honored to announce the USAO 2024 Law Enforcement Award recipients during National Police Week. Commemorating National Police Week and presenting these awards provide opportunities to recognize the contributions of law enforcement officers and to annually celebrate their hard work and dedication to keeping our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “These officers, agents, and their families have all gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure others’ safety and maintain our faith in justice.”

The category of the Civil Litigation Achievement Award is a new award in 2024, which recognizes those whose actions significantly support the USAO’s ability to resolve civil matters. This year’s award recognizes a settlement in which the awardees enabled the return of financial loss to the government. The following federal matters are being recognized, and the following agencies are being honored:

U.S. v. Robert Michael Waters, Jr.

Agency of Recipient(s):

• The United States Marshal Service
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Export Enforcement
• U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Criminal Investigations

The Excellence in Public Safety Award is a new award in 2024, which aims to recognize those whose activities have significantly and substantially reduced the risk of further harm to the public. The following federal matters are being recognized, and the following agencies are being honored:

U.S. v. Michael Chick

Agency of Recipient(s):

• Eliot Police Department (Maine)
• Greenland Police Department
• New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN)
• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

The Exceptional Contribution to a Federal Investigation/Prosecution Award is reserved for recipients whose actions impact law enforcement’s ability to achieve certain capabilities. This year’s award recognizes a case in which the awardees enabled law enforcement to identify critical intelligence. The following federal matters are being recognized, and the following agencies are being honored:

Cumulative Contributions to Child Exploitation Investigations

Agency of Recipient(s):

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

The Investigative Achievement Award is limited to those whose activities have substantially and significantly contributed to a particular USAO prosecution. The following federal matters are being recognized, and the following agencies are being honored:

U.S. v. Abraham Hernandez

Agency of Recipient(s):

• United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

U.S. v. NuDay Syria

Agency of Recipient(s):

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - Criminal Investigations
• U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security's Office of Export Enforcement

U.S. v. Sewell, et al/U.S. v. Stottlar

Agency of Recipient(s):

• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Manchester Police Department

The Investigative Excellence Award is awarded to one individual whose specific acts led directly to the arrest of a dangerous subject or to the exposure of a significant criminal conspiracy. The following federal matters are being recognized, and the following agencies are being honored:

            U.S. v. Chad Lawlor

            Agency of Recipient(s):

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

The category of the Outstanding Collaboration Award recognizes individuals who demonstrated outstanding efforts or overcame significant challenges in collaborating with multiple agencies. The following federal matters are being recognized, and the following agencies are being honored:

Federal Firearms Licensee Dealer Burglaries

Agency of Recipient(s):

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

###

CONCORD – A former Dover man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for illegally possessing four firearms and ammunition that he acquired by using a straw purchaser, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Christopher T. Brown, 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe to 57 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.  On February 7, 2024, Brown pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. The straw purchaser in this case plead guilty to two counts of making false statements in connection with acquisition of a firearm and was sentenced on October 25, 2023.

“The defendant used a straw purchaser to unlawfully acquire and possess multiple firearms,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “Individuals prohibited from obtaining firearms cannot use straw purchasers to circumvent federal law. The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners will investigate these crimes and bring both the prohibited individuals and the straw purchasers to justice.”

“Firearms possessed by convicted felons, often lead to an increase of violent crime within our communities,” said ATF Boston Field Division Special Agent in Charge James M. Ferguson “The sentence imposed yesterday sends a clear message that convicted felons who possess firearms will be held accountable. ATF alongside our local and state law enforcement partners are committed to keeping our communities safe.”

On January 9, 2023, the defendant’s wife called emergency services and reported that she and the defendant had an argument, and that the defendant had a gun to his head. Dover police officers responded to the emergency call at the defendant’s home.  The defendant’s wife consented to a search of the house, and officers found four firearms in the closet of their son’s bedroom.  Those guns included two pistols, a .40 caliber rifle, and a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun with an obliterated serial number.  Officers also recovered ammunition.

The defendant later admitted to owning the firearms and knowing that he could not lawfully possess them as a felon.  The defendant also admitted that he used a straw purchaser to purchase three of the firearms and asked that straw purchaser to file a false police report that the firearms she bought were stolen.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

###