District of New Hampshire
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Former Grantham Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Almost $240,000 from a Charity and Gambling the Funds AwayRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Grantham man and current resident of Holly Springs, North Carolina, pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to 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, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for June 11, 2024. Fisher was charged on May 10, 2023.
Fisher was the Executive Director of LISTEN from approximately August 2016 through October 2022. As Executive Director, Fisher had full access to LISTEN’s finances, including its PayPal account, which it used to collect donations, and its bank account. The defendant made unauthorized transfers from LISTEN’s PayPal and bank accounts 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 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 net of $6,719 across 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 charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, 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 led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lebanon Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
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Rochester Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with COVID-19 Fraud, Identify Theft, and Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Rochester man pleaded guilty today in federal court to fraud and identity theft related to his fraudulent applications for CARES Act loans and to possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Heath Gauthier, 48, pleaded guilty to wire fraud, attempted wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and possession of child pornography. U.S. District Court Judge Laplante scheduled sentencing for May 30, 2024. Gauthier was charged with wire fraud and identity theft on February 15, 2023, and was charged with possession of child pornography on August 2, 2023.
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, in support of the applications. In total the indictment alleges that Gauthier applied for more than $1 million in CARES Act loan funds.
Gauthier was arrested on February 16, 2023, and 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 child sexual abuse material.
The charging statutes provide a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft and no greater than 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography. The identity theft charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years and, if a defendant has a qualifying prior office, the child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. Gauthier also faces at least 5 years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of at least $199,000. 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 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 are 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.
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13 Defendants Indicted in Connection with Two Drug Trafficking ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Thirteen defendants have been indicted in connection with drug trafficking organizations out of Manchester and Concord, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Over the past week and a half, law enforcement arrested nine of these defendants on conspiracies to distribute controlled substance charges, namely methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The following defendants have been indicted in connection with these charges:
- Rashidahmed Cantave, 42, of Boston, Massachusetts, who was released on federal pretrial supervision.
- Matthew Schnell, 43, of Bellingham, Massachusetts, who is in federal custody.
- Thomas Conway, 53, of Bedford, New Hampshire, who is in federal custody.
- Michael Raiche, 47, of Manchester, New Hampshire, who is in federal custody.
- Angel Demarco, 41, of Manchester, New Hampshire, who is in federal custody.
- Anthony Conley, 47, of Gilmanton, New Hampshire, who is in federal custody.
- Dennis Drew, 50, of Northfield, New Hampshire, who is in federal custody.
- Robby Lewis, 51, of Manchester, New Hampshire, who is in federal custody.
- Maureen Corsetti, 34, of Manchester, New Hampshire, who was released on federal pretrial supervision.
- Serene Hull, 38, of Concord, New Hampshire, who is in federal custody.
- Zachary Albert, 42, of Concord, New Hampshire, who is in state custody.
- Jeremy Trask, 35, of Milford, New Hampshire, who is in state custody.
- Alton Ryan, 50, of Boscawen, New Hampshire, who is in state custody.
According to court documents and statements made in court, these drug trafficking rings have allegedly been supplying methamphetamine and fentanyl to customers since at least October 2022.
The charges provide for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. 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 Major Offender Task Force and the New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department, the Concord Police Department, the Bow Police Department, and the Seabrook Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarad E. Hodes and Heather A. Cherniske are 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.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for 6 Years for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced yesterday in federal court for possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine with the intent to distribute the drugs, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Jeffrey Hayes, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.
“The devastation caused by fentanyl and methamphetamine touches every community in New Hampshire,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “Those who traffic these poisons like the defendant will be sentenced to prison for significant periods of time.”
"Our efforts to combat drug distribution are vital to safeguarding our community, and this outcome underscores the severity of such criminal activities and their detrimental impact on society,” said Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg.
In 2021, the Manchester Police Department investigated Hayes for drug distribution, and eventually searched his residence. During the search, they found distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.
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Derry Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Fraudulently Obtain Approximately $2.5 Million in COVID-19 Pandemic Relief FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Derry man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to attempting to fraudulently obtain $2.5 million in COVID-19 pandemic relief funds, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
David Dodge, 41, pleaded guilty to bank fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2024. Dodge’s wife and co-conspirator, Tammy Dodge, has a change of plea hearing scheduled for March 4, 2024.
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. In reality, these companies had no operations and served no business purpose.
In total, Dodge submitted 30 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, David 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 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, Dodge was able to obtain $219,323.34 out of the approximately $2.5 million he sought. He misused some of the fraudulently obtained funds to purchase jewelry.
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 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.
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Manchester Man Pleads Guilty for Intending to Traffic Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today in federal court for possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
John Barber, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine and fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for May 29, 2024. The defendant was indicted on September 6, 2022, but pleaded guilty to a superseding information that included an additional drug charge.
On February 23, 2022, a New Hampshire State Trooper stopped a car in Concord on Interstate 93, in which the defendant was a passenger. After the driver gave consent to search the car, law enforcement 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 was carrying $3000 in cash, and he admitted that he intended to distribute the pouch of drugs to someone else.
Later, on August 23, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of the defendant’s camper in Manchester and found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine in a plastic bag containing other smaller baggies. 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.
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Hudson Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining COVID-19 Relief FundsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Hudson man pleaded guilty today in federal court to fraudulently submitting four loan applications to obtain CARES Act funds, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Matthew Dispensa, 57, pleaded guilty to three counts of bank fraud and one count of attempted wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for May 28, 2024. Dispensa was charged on April 26, 2023.
Dispensa fraudulently applied for multiple loans under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. For example, on May 5, 2020, the defendant applied for a $90,400 PPP loan from Primary Bank for an entity called Gateway Hills LLC. In connection with the application, the defendant provided the bank multiple false supporting documents, such as fake annual and quarterly tax documents and a “Management Report” for the period ending December 31, 2020, seven months into the future. The defendant also provided a “Payroll Summary” showing that he was paid $8,700 per month through Gateway Hills LLC. The defendant’s tax returns actually showed no income from that entity.
Similarly, on December 29, 2020, the defendant applied for a $150,000 EIDL from the Small Business Administration. In that application, the defendant falsely claimed that the Gateway Hills LLC entity had gross revenues of $485,000 in the 12 months preceding January 31, 2020. However, the bank records showed no actual regular business activity for Gateway Hills LLC.
Overall, the defendant fraudulently obtained $342,650 and attempted to fraudulently obtain $492,650.
The charge of bank fraud provides a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, 5 years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. The charge of attempted wire fraud provides a sentence of no more than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, 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 Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hudson Police Department. 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.
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Hampton Man Pleads Guilty to Multiple Fraud Schemes Totaling over $2 Million and Will Forfeit More Than $800,000 to the United States GovernmentRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Hampton man pleaded guilty today in federal court to four separate fraud schemes involving a total intended loss of approximately $2.1 million, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Anthony Silva, 39, pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud, one count of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. As part of the plea agreement, Silva will forfeit assets totaling over $825,000 to the United States government. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott scheduled sentencing for May 2, 2024. The grand jury returned an initial indictment against the defendant on March 21, 2022, and a superseding indictment on December 20, 2023.
Silva orchestrated four separate fraud schemes using stolen identities. Specifically, Silva used stolen names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, and other identifiers to fraudulently obtain (1) unemployment insurance benefits from Vermont, (2) unemployment insurance benefits from Massachusetts, (3) American Express credit cards, and (4) CARES Act funds. The fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and CARES Act funds were deposited either by check or direct deposit into dozens of accounts Silva controlled at multiple banks. Many of these accounts were in the names of individual victims or fictional organizations, with Silva listed as the trustee. Silva obtained more than $400,000 from Vermont, over $150,000 from Massachusetts, and $600,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The fraudulently-obtained credit cards were used to make over $50,000 in purchases from retailers such as Victoria’s Secret and Walmart. Silva also tried unsuccessfully to obtain $1.35 million in CARES Act funding. The total intended loss was approximately $2.1 million.
The charge of wire fraud and mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is higher. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of 2 years to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 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. Postal Inspection Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General, and the United States Secret Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and John J. Kennedy are 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.
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.
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United States Attorney Jane E. Young Announces New Criminal Division LeadershipRead the Press Release
CONCORD – United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces the appointments of Assistant United State Attorney Jennifer C. Davis to serve as the Criminal Division Chief and Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana L. McDonald to serve as the Deputy Criminal Division Chief.
Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Davis has 30 years of experience serving in the District of New Hampshire, most recently as the Deputy Criminal Division Chief. Prior to her roles in leadership, she conducted complex long-term narcotics investigations as the District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and National Opioid Coordinator. She has also served as a mentor for her colleagues as the District’s Senior Litigation Counsel.
AUSA Davis has prosecuted a vast array of crimes including health care and security fraud, illegal firearm and narcotic possession, immigration, and white-collar theft. Earlier in her career, AUSA Davis received a detail appointment as the Assistant Director for Criminal Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Education, where she oversaw the implementation of trainings for the country’s federal prosecutors. She is a graduate of Marquette University Law School.
“This Office is fortunate to have Jen’s dedication, experience, dependability, and leadership,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “For many years, Jen has served as a mentor to federal prosecutors, both in New Hampshire and nationally, and a dependable ally to our law enforcement partners. These characteristics, coupled with her strong legal and analytical skills, make her exceptionally equipped to lead the Criminal Division.”
AUSA MacDonald has served in the District of New Hampshire’s criminal division since 2015. While AUSA MacDonald has prosecuted a wide range of criminal cases throughout her career, she specializes in computer crime, most notably matters involving cryptocurrency.
AUSA MacDonald received a detail appointment in 2022 as a founding member of the United States Department of Justice’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, which is tasked with investigating and prosecuting the criminal misuse of digital assets. Prior to this specialized assignment, AUSA MacDonald worked on a myriad of criminal cases, including white collar theft, computer hacking, child exploitation, human rights violations, drug trafficking, and human trafficking cases. She also served as the Project Safe Childhood and Human Trafficking Coordinator for the District of New Hampshire. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law.
“Georgie is a welcomed addition to the leadership team in the District of New Hampshire,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “She is a skilled attorney with impeccable trial and advocacy skills, who also commands the respect of her colleagues throughout the country and in this Office. She will undoubtedly be a beacon for the criminal attorneys given her legal acumen and boundless enthusiasm.”
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U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young Announces the Appointment of the First Dedicated Civil Rights Assistant U.S. AttorneyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces the appointment of Matthew Vicinanzo as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA). AUSA Vicinanzo will handle civil and criminal Civil Rights matters in the District of New Hampshire.
“Assistant U.S. Attorney Vicinanzo comes to the U.S. Attorney’s Office with a breadth of experience from private practice,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “Matt is a New Hampshire native who cares deeply about our communities. He is eager to expand the Civil Rights practice in this Office, and further support the civil and constitutional rights of Granite Staters.”
Most recently, AUSA Vicinanzo represented clients in civil and criminal matters as Counsel at Crowell & Moring LLP, where he handled investigations and litigation related to the federal False Claims Act, anti-fraud statutes, and complex commercial disputes. AUSA Vicinanzo clerked for United States Chief Judge Jeffrey R. Howard, and he attended Georgetown University Law Center.
AUSA Vicinanzo is expected to investigate and prosecute civil and criminal Civil Rights matters. The U.S. Attorney’s Office was allocated two new attorney positions to address civil rights, and domestic terrorism/violent crime in New Hampshire. An AUSA focused on domestic terrorism and violent crime was appointed in October 2023.
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Ian Freeman Ordered to Pay More Than $3.5 Million in Restitution to Victims and to Forfeit Proceeds of His Bitcoin Money Laundering SchemeRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Ian Freeman was ordered to pay restitution totaling more than $3.5 million to 29 victims and forfeit various other assets that were seized during the investigation, U.S Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Ian Freeman, 43, of Keene, was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to pay restitution totaling $3,502,708.69 to 29 victims of his offense. The Court also issued a preliminary order of forfeiture of various other assets that were seized during the investigation. On October 2, 2023, Ian Freeman was sentenced to 96 months in prison, 2 years of supervised release, and a fine of $40,000. Freeman was convicted by a federal jury on December 22, 2022, following a ten-day trial.
“Ian Freeman’s money laundering business caused many vulnerable people unnecessary anguish. Nothing will ever take away the pain he caused these victims, but I am grateful that the dedicated prosecution team on this case was able to make many of them financially whole,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “It is rare for victims of romance scams and other international fraud schemes to have their money returned to them because of the anonymity that businesses like Ian Freeman’s offer fraudsters. I urge everyone to protect themselves and their older loved ones by learning the indicators of these types of scams, so that you are better prepared to prevent being victimized.”
"This court order forcing Ian Freeman to pay millions of dollars in restitution to dozens of elderly victims across the country who suffered agonizing losses is a significant step toward justice,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “While no amount of money can make up for the emotional toll Mr. Freeman’s actions have inflicted, it does ensure that he has been held both criminally and financially responsible for what he did. The FBI will never stop working to shut down fraud schemes like this one to protect older folks and help them hang on to their hard-earned money. If you’re being victimized, or know of someone who is, please reach out to the FBI – anonymously, if you like.”
Freeman laundered over ten million dollars in proceeds of romance scams and other internet frauds by exchanging U.S. dollars for bitcoin. By failing to register his business with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network as required by law, disabling “know your customer” features on his bitcoin kiosks, and ensuring that bitcoin customers did not tell him what they did with their bitcoin, among other things, Freeman created a business that catered to fraudsters. By charging exorbitant fees, Freeman made more than a million dollars.
Records and exhibits in the 10-day trial proved that as part of the conspiracy, Freeman and his co-conspirators opened and operated accounts at financial institutions in the names of various churches including the Shire Free Church, the Church of the Invisible Hand, the Crypto Church of New Hampshire, and the NH Peace Church. Freeman instructed bitcoin customers, who were often victims of scams, to lie to the financial institutions and describe their deposits as church donations. From 2016 to 2019, he paid no taxes, and concealed his income from the Internal Revenue Service.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. The national Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and the Department of Justice, Tax Division, provided valuable assistance in the case. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald, John Kennedy, and Seth R. Aframe.
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Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Embezzling Approximately $10 Million from a New Hampshire-Based Investment CompanyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Guatemalan man pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to stealing approximately $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, pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for May 30, 2024. Montano was charged by complaint in 2015 and was indicted in 2021.
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. Montano was in Miami at the time 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.”
The defendant 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. Montano was ultimately arrested on November 1, 2023, at Miami International Airport. Once he was taken into custody, 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.”
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 amount stolen, 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.
FBI is leading 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 is prosecuting the case.
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Georgia Man Sentenced for Bank Fraud Conspiracy and Identity TheftRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Georgia man was sentencing today in federal court in Concord for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Lester Aceituno, 40, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty to 30 months in prison. The defendant was convicted by a federal jury on November 3, 2023, after a five-day trial. Aceituno and his two co-defendants, Kizito Chukwujekwu and Chinedu Ihejiere, were indicted on August 24, 2020. Kizito Chukwujekwu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced on November 23, 2021. Co-defendant Kizito Chukwujekwu pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and was sentenced on November 23, 2021.
“The defendant and his co-conspirators brazenly stole and used other identities to achieve their scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message to fraudsters like the defendant that such activity will not be tolerated, and this Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those who victimize members of the public.”
“Lester Aceituno saw it as easy money,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “He stole the identities of unsuspecting victims and amassed tens of thousands of dollars. What he didn’t account for was the FBI and our partners catching him. Anyone who engages in this sort of criminal behavior should know the FBI is hard at work rooting out financial fraudsters like him and bringing them to justice like we did in this case.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service will aggressively investigate and seek prosecution of individuals like Lester Aceituno, who along with his co-conspirators, stole identities and cashed out on the scheme,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “The burden of identity theft for victims is financially devastating and creates significant inconveniences. We will continue to support and collaborate with our federal law enforcement partners to stop those who are engaged in these types of schemes.”
Between June of 2016 and October of 2017, Aceituno and others used stolen identities to open accounts at banks in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Georgia. Aceituno opened or accessed post office boxes in Massachusetts and Georgia to receive debit cards and pin numbers to access these accounts. Aceituno’s co-conspirators then deposited fraudulent checks totaling more than $119,000. After the money was credited to the accounts, but before the bank determined the checks were false, one of Aceituno’s co-conspirators withdrew the money and gave it to another co-conspirator, the leader of the scheme.
The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Brockton, Massachusetts Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matthew T. Hunter and Geoffrey W.R. Ward are prosecuting the case.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Four Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Dover man pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Christopher T. Brown, 38, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Sentencing was scheduled for May 14, 2024, with U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe. Brown was first charged on April 26, 2023.
On January 9, 2023, the defendant’s spouse 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 spouse consented to a search of the house, and officers found four firearms. Those guns included two pistols, a .40 caliber rifle, and a 12-gauge sawed-off shotgun. 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 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, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
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Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Nashua man pleaded guilty today in federal court to firearms-related charges, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Joshua Smith, 39, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for May 16, 2024. Smith was indicted on May 31, 2022.
On March 8, 2022, Nashua Police detectives were executing an outstanding warrant for the defendant’s arrest. Detectives apprehended and arrested the defendant as he was leaving the building to get into a taxi. The defendant was carrying a duffle bag that contained a 40 mm caliber riot gun. Intelligence revealed that the riot gun was the property of the Manchester Police Department. The defendant had been convicted of several felonies, including a robbery in 2013, and was therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm.
The charges provide for a sentence of up to 10 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.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande 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.
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Arizona Company and CEO Sentenced for Illegal Distribution of Tianeptine and Other Drugs and Ordered to Forfeit $2.4 MillionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – An Arizona company and CEO were sentenced today in federal court in Concord for distributing drugs into interstate commerce, including tianeptine[1], that were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Centera Bioscience, d/b/a Nootropics Depot, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Talesha Saint-Marc to three years of probation. The company’s CEO, Paul Eftang, 38, was sentenced to one year of probation. The defendants have also paid a $2.4 million forfeiture and surrendered all drugs seized by the FDA and Customs and Border Protection. On October 30, 2023, Centera and Eftang pleaded guilty to the introduction of misbranded drugs into interstate commerce.
“The defendants sold Tianeptine and other drugs that were not approved by the FDA,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “The FDA has a strict drug approval process to protect consumers from products that are unsafe or ineffective. Eftang and Centera Bioscience made substantial effort to sell misbranded drugs, which has consequences under federal law. This Office will continue to prosecute those who risk consumer’s health and safety.”
“Unapproved drugs present a serious health risk to those who buy and use them. The drugs can contain unknown ingredients and are manufactured under unknown conditions,” said Special Agent in Charge Fernando McMillian, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations’ New York Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who attempt to traffic in dangerous and unapproved drugs including tianeptine and other chemicals trafficked by this organization.”
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is committed to keeping the U.S. Mail, its employees, and customers safe. When the U.S. Mail is used to transport unapproved drugs such as Tianeptine, it is taken very seriously,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “We will continue to conduct investigations, alongside our law enforcement partners, that seek prosecution of those who compromise the safety of the American public.”
Tianeptine, adrafinil, phenibut, and racetams are pharmaceutical drugs not approved for use in the United States. Racetams include piracetam, aniracetam, coluracetam, and phenylpiracetam. The defendants imported approximately $7.4 million worth of raw material for these drugs from China between April 2017 and September 2021. The defendants earned approximately $35 million from selling these drugs during that same time period. The defendants sold the drugs across the United States, and at one point used Mexican intermediaries to ship the products.
During this investigation, Customs detained several shipments of adrafinil and racetams addressed to Centera Bioscience or one of its subsidiaries. These shipments included 20 barrels of phenibut hydrochloride from Shanghai Norky Pharmaceutical, 40 barrels of piracetam from Shanghai Soyoung Biotechnology, and 20 barrels of phenibut hydrochloride from Qingdao Sincess. The company’s Strategic Director, Paul Sheard, represented to Customs that the shipments were supposed to be used for laboratory analysis and research only, and were not intended for human consumption. The customs paperwork also incorrectly labeled the imports.
The defendants also maintained an active online presence to advertise tianeptine, phenibut, and racetams, including a sub-forum on the website Reddit. Eftang himself posted regularly on Reddit under the username “MisterYouAreSoDumb.”
The Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Geoffrey W.R. Ward, and FDA Special Counsel Sarah Hawkins prosecuted the case.
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[1]Tianeptine is an unapproved drug in the United States. Although other countries have approved tianeptine to treat depression and anxiety, some have restricted how tianeptine is prescribed or dispensed, or revised the drug label to warn of possible addiction. Some people have turned to tianeptine as an opioid alternative, or to self-treat anxiety or depression.
Federal Prisoner Captured After Escaping from Halfway HouseRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former New York man has been arrested and charged after escaping from the Hampshire House Residential Reentry Center in Manchester, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Michael Villanueva, 43, was charged with escaping from federal custody. Villanueva was arrested yesterday in the Manchester area and will make an initial appearance in federal court today at 11:30 a.m.
According to the charging documents, Villanueva was previously sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely heroin and cocaine base. In June 2023, he was transferred by the Bureau of Prisons from the federal facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania to Hampshire House. At Hampshire House, he was allowed house arrest and wore an electronic GPS monitoring ankle bracelet.
On January 10, 2024, Villanueva was told to report to Hampshire House after authorities found inappropriate messages in his phone. That evening, at 6:41 pm, the Bureau of Prisons received an alert that Villanueva’s GPS monitoring ankle bracelet had been tampered with. Villanueva did not return to Hampshire House. He was at large for three weeks before being captured.
The charge of escape provides for a sentence of up to 5 years in prison. 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.
U.S. Marshals Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen 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.
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Maine Man Pleads Guilty to Trafficking 30 Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Maine man pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord in connection to trafficking approximately14 kilograms (30 pounds) of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Brian Strout, 46, of Turner, Maine, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely methamphetamine. Chief Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for May 6, 2024. The defendant and his co-defendant spouse, Tara Christian, were charged by indictment on August 1, 2022. Christian pleaded guilty to similar charges on December 7, 2023.
On July 7, 2022, investigators received information that Strout and Christian were obtaining a supply of methamphetamine while at a casino in Everett, Massachusetts. Investigators conducted surveillance at the casino and located Strout and Christian loading bags into their vehicle and driving north toward New Hampshire on Interstate 93. When investigators stopped the vehicle, the defendants were found with 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine in the vehicle. Further investigation revealed that a FedEx package containing even more methamphetamine was enroute to the defendants in Maine. Agents located and searched the package and seized an additional 11.2 kilograms of pure methamphetamine.
The charging statute provides for a maximum sentence of life in prison, at least five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000,000. 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 Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, New Hampshire State Police, Maine State Police, and Everett (Massachusetts) Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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California Man Sentenced for Defrauding Three Business in Connection with His Fake Experimental Truck CompanyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A California man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for wire fraud charges, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Jesse Hernandez, a/k/a Kevin Zarbalas, 61, previously of Los Angeles, California, was sentenced by senior U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro to 30 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Hernandez was also ordered to pay restitution to three separate victims in the amount of $88,815.29.
“Not only did Hernandez victimize three companies in three states, but he continued this financial scheme while he was facing charges here in New Hampshire,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “The sentence imposed today ensures that he will be prevented from harming business owners during his incarceration. The defendant was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims, which is always a priority of this office.”
“Jesse Hernandez’s clients thought he was a man of his word. Little did they know he would take full advantage of that trust, using tens of thousands of dollars of their money as his own,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI is fighting every day to shut down financial fraudsters like this, find justice for their victims, and protect the public. With today’s sentence, Mr. Hernandez has finally been held accountable.”
In May of 2019, Hernandez executed a scheme to illegally obtain funds from a New Hampshire business (TH) in connection with a customized ice cream truck for an experimental marketing event in California. TH sought a specialty-branded truck that was wrapped in the product’s marketing art and contained multiple specifications. TH found the defendant’s company, Mobie Experiential Trucks (Mobie), to be knowledgeable about the experiential vehicle industry and that his pricing was competitive. Hernandez provided a 22-slide presentation to TH personnel and discussed the presentation over the phone. The images in the presentation were later determined to display products done by other companies and pictures taken from the internet by Hernandez to misrepresent his experience and work. Ultimately, the ice cream truck was never delivered, and the defendant used the funds from TH for other purposes.
On December 1, 2021, Hernandez pleaded guilty to committing wire fraud in connection with the above. After noticing a press release announcing the guilty plea, a Minnesota based company (AA) contacted authorities to report that it too had recently been defrauded by Hernandez under similar circumstances. Later, in 2022, Hernandez attempted to defraud a New York based company in connection with another marketing truck, this time utilizing an alias of “Kevin Zarbalas.” Hernandez’s bail was subsequently revoked, and he has been in custody since his arrest in California in March 2023.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau prosecuted the case.
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Manchester Woman Pleads Guilty for Her Role in a Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester woman pleaded guilty today in federal court for her role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire. She is the third of the 22 defendants in the conspiracy to plead guilty, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Alesha Neault, age 38, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, namely, fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for May 3, 2024. The defendant was indicted on April 26, 2023.
On September 13, 2022, the defendant sold approximately 10 grams of fentanyl, and another 10 grams of fentanyl on October 6, 2022. Customers called a phone number for a “dispatch” line used to purchase narcotics and would speak to a dispatcher who would put the defendant in touch with the customer to complete the drug sale. The defendant or her associate would then arrange a meeting place for the drug transaction. On both occasions, the defendant met the customer at an agreed-upon location in Manchester, picked the customer up in a car in which she was a passenger, and provided the customer with fentanyl in exchange for money inside of the car.
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 and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Jarad Hodes are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Concord Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Child Exploitation OffensesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Concord man was sentenced today in federal court for sexual exploitation of a minor and possession of child sexual abuse material, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Scott Wilkinson, age 39, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 240 months in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Wilkinson was also ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution.
“The pain and trauma that Wilkinson caused the survivor and the survivor’s family is inconceivable,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “Not only did Wilkinson sexually exploit a child, but he produced child sexual abuse material from his crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize cases that involve harming children, and we will work tirelessly to obtain justice for survivors of heinous crimes like those committed by the defendant.”
“Scott Wilkinson admitted to unimaginably abhorrent behavior. He sought out sex with a child and perpetuated that trauma by recording and reliving it. The harm he has done is vast, and today’s sentence is richly deserved,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Locking up predators like Wilkinson is one of the most important actions that the FBI and our partners can take to help protect kids, the most vulnerable members of our community.”
In April 2022, Wilkinson traveled from New Hampshire to New Jersey, where he engaged in sexual acts with a 12-year-old child. Wilkinson had been corresponding with the child online for approximately one year prior to traveling to New Jersey to meet the child. A video that Wilkinson created of himself engaged in sexual acts with the child was found on his cell phone, as were other images and videos of child sexual abuse material.
The Egg Harbor Township Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Concord Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland from the District of New Hampshire and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lindsey Harteis from the District of New Jersey 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.
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Antrim Man Pleads Guilty to Faking a Disability to Fraudulently Obtain $660,000 in Veterans BenefitsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – An Antrim man pleaded guilty today in federal court to faking a disability to get $662,871.77 in veteran’s benefits of which he was not entitled, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Christopher Stultz, 49, pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante scheduled sentencing for May 6, 2024. Stultz was charged on September 13, 2023.
Beginning in January 2003, Stultz falsely represented to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that he was no longer able to use his feet. This caused the VA to rate him as 100% disabled, increasing his monthly VA benefits. In addition, because the VA believed Stultz was unable to use his feet, he was also awarded funding through the VA’s Automobile Adaptive Equipment program to purchase special cars and vehicle adaptations designed to help mobility-impaired veterans.
However, Stultz did not need a wheelchair or other ambulatory device to move around. He was surveilled on multiple occasions and recorded walking normally. For example, on October 28, 2021, Stultz went to the VA Medical Center in Jamaica Plain in Boston. He used a wheelchair while inside the VA facility. After leaving the VA, he stood up, lifted the wheelchair into his car, and drove off to a shopping mall. There, Stultz walked normally through multiple stores. Similarly, on October 3, 2022, Stultz went to the VA Medical Center in Manchester. Again, he used a wheelchair while inside the VA facility. After leaving the VA facility, Stultz drove to the Mall of New Hampshire and was recorded walking normally through multiple stores. In addition, multiple witnesses reported that they had never known Stultz to use a wheelchair or other ambulatory devices as far back as the early 2000s.
In total, from January 2003 through December 2022, Stultz received $662,871.77 in VA benefits he was not entitled to.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison and 3 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 Department of Veterans Affairs’ Office of the Inspector General led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is prosecuting the case.
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Alexandria Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex OffenderRead the Press Release
CONCORD – An Alexandria man was sentenced in federal court in Concord for failing to register as a sex offender, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Rex Jason Sumner, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty to 12 months and 1 day in prison and 5 years of supervised release.
“Prosecuting violations of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act is critical in our effort to keep the most vulnerable members of our community safe,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said. “Today’s sentence reinforces this Office’s dedication to protecting the public and ensuring accountability for those who attempt to circumvent their registration requirements.”
“If not for the valuable assistance and resources dedicated to overseeing the deceptive movements of registered sex offenders throughout the country and abroad, offenders such as Mr. Sumner would unknowingly lay dormant in our communities,” proclaimed Deputy U.S. Marshal Andrew Grillo. “This case highlights the efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement networks efficiently coming together to resolve an important matter central to public safety.”
“The Alexandria Police Department was glad to be part of this investigation. Sumner is a potentially dangerous individual who thought that he could come and hide in a small town in New Hampshire,” said Chief David Suckling of the Alexandria Police Department. “This was a great collaboration between many agencies, and we were proud to do our share.”
According to Court documents and statements made in Court, Sumner is a Tier III sex offender with a duty to register for life. Sumner was released from prison in Oklahoma in 2018 and had been registering with Oklahoma authorities at an address in Oklahoma despite residing in New Hampshire since early 2023. Sumner would return to Oklahoma periodically to update his registration and continued to represent to authorities that he still resided in Oklahoma.
The United States Marshals Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Alexandria (NH) Police Department, the Plymouth (NH) Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Garvin County (OK) Sherriff’s Office. 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
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Manchester Woman Pleads Guilty for Her Role in a Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester woman pleaded guilty today in federal court for her role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. Katie Girgus, age 30, is the second of the 22 defendants in this conspiracy to plead guilty, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
The defendant pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, namely, fentanyl and cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for April 30, 2024. The defendant was indicted on April 26, 2023.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, the defendant sold a total of approximately 50 grams of fentanyl and 3.5 grams of crack cocaine between June and November of 2022. Customers would call a phone number for a “dispatch” line used to purchase narcotics and would speak to a dispatcher who would put the defendant in touch with the customer to complete the drug sale. The defendant would then arrange to meet with the customer, primarily in Manchester, to sell them drugs. She would often meet the customer at an agreed-upon address, pick the customer up in her car, and complete the drug transaction inside the car.
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 and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Jarad Hodes are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Six Defendants Arrested and Indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Multiple Kilograms of CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Six defendants were arrested on January 17, 2024, in connection with a conspiracy to distribute cocaine sent through the U.S. Postal Service to New Hampshire. The defendants were indicted on December 20, 2023, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Three defendants appeared in federal court in Concord for an initial appearance on January 17, 2024. The remaining defendants will appear in federal court for initial appearances on a later date.
The following defendants were indicted in connection with these charges:
- Lewistone Baez Miranda, 48, of Manchester, NH. Baez Miranda is in custody.
- Joshua Baez Core, 25, of Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Baez Core is in custody.
- Euris Rosario Rodriguez, 38, of Manchester, NH. Rosario Rodriguez is in custody.
- Siul Mary Rosa Cruz, 28, of Manchester, NH. Rosa Cruz is in custody.
- David Orme, 51, of Manchester, NH. Orme is in custody.
- Sasha Ramirez Muniz, 42, of Manchester, NH. Ramirez Muniz is in custody.
According to the charging document and statements made in court, each of the defendants was involved in a drug trafficking organization that shipped large amounts of cocaine from Puerto Rico to Manchester, New Hampshire, using the United States Postal Service. Members of the organization would pick up the packages of cocaine in Manchester and provide them to Lewistone Baez Miranda and others for distribution. The largest mail parcel shipped by the drug trafficking organization recovered by the United States Postal Inspection Service contained 4 kilograms of cocaine.
The charging statute for the drug offense provides a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a term of supervised release of at least three years, 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 United States Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande 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.
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New York Man Pleads Guilty to Human SmugglingRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Brooklyn, New York man pleaded guilty on January 17, 2024 in federal court in connection with smuggling unauthorized immigrants, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Abraham Hernandez, 27, pleaded guilty to three counts of bringing in and harboring certain aliens. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for April 19, 2024. Hernandez was indicted on July 5, 2023.
According to the charging documents, on or about June 13, 2023, Abraham was stopped in Pittsburg, New Hampshire while transporting in a Honda SUV nine unauthorized immigrants who were in the United States in violation of law.
The charging statute provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to 3 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.
United States Border Patrol led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.
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Recidivist Drug Trafficker Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Belmont man was sentenced today in federal court for trafficking methamphetamine in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
David Sweeney, 47, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 160 months in federal prison and 5 years of supervised release. On July 5, 2022, Sweeney pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office working in conjunction with our federal and state law enforcement partners is committed to investigating and prosecuting recidivist drug traffickers, like the defendant, who pose an ongoing danger to our state by flooding our communities with thousands of doses of methamphetamine,” United States Attorney Jane E. Young said. “The significant sentence imposed today will protect our citizens from Sweeney’s unabated drug trafficking.”
“DEA stands committed to keeping highly addictive drugs like methamphetamine off the streets of New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Sweeney accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in America. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
“David Sweeney pushed massive amounts of methamphetamine onto New Hampshire’s streets, and today’s lengthy prison sentence officially puts him out of business,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI and our partners are committed to taking down and locking up prolific drug traffickers like Sweeney – people with no regard for the incredible damage they inflict on so many lives and communities.”
According to court documents and statements made in court, in January 2016, United States District Court Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty sentenced Sweeney to 54 months imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release for possession with the intent to distribute heroin. Sweeney was released from federal custody in January 2018, and placed on three years of federal supervision in New Hampshire. On December 13, 2019, while under the term of his supervised release, Sweeney sold a quantity of methamphetamine to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confidential informant. As the investigation continued, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the FBI determined that Sweeney conspired with other individuals located in New Hampshire, the Caribbean and Mexico to import multiple kilograms of methamphetamine into New Hampshire for distribution.
This matter was investigated by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with the assistance of the United States Postal Inspection Service and the New Hampshire State Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found athttps://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Colombian National Sentenced for His Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Colombian national was sentenced on January 9, 2024 in federal court in Concord for his illegal reentry into the United States after previously being deported, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Jheisson Rizo Suarez, 39, was sentencing by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty to 24 months in prison and one year of supervised release. Rizo Suarez pleaded guilty to one count of reentry after deportation. On September 18, 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty to the illegal reentry charge.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to aggressively prosecute those, like the defendant, who commit violent crimes while in the United States illegally,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said.
On July 9, 2021, the defendant was arrested by the Dover Police Department in connection with a residential burglary in progress. The subsequent investigation revealed that the defendant was illegally in the United States, after having been previously deported on or about January 28, 2013.
The Dover Police Department and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement led the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward.
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Concord Man Sentenced for Possessing Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Concord man was sentenced today in federal court for possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.
Ethan Lea, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya B. McCafferty to 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On April 14, 2022, Lea pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.
“Law enforcement will hold those that poison our communities with dangerous narcotics accountable,” First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack said. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state, and federal partners to reduce the supply of fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Hampshire by incarcerating prolific drug dealers.”
“Today’s sentence is a win for the FBI, our law enforcement partners, and the people of New Hampshire as we work together to remove dangerous drugs and criminals off the street,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
After a motor vehicle stop on June 13, 2021, law enforcement seized approximately 245 grams of methamphetamine and 71 grams of fentanyl from Lea’s car. On July 30, 2021, Lea was caught again with large quantities of drugs and evidence of drug dealing in his car, including 448 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, and over $2,000 in cash. He later admitted to law enforcement that the drugs recovered from the car stops belonged to him, and that he intended to distribute them.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande prosecuted the case.
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North Carolina Woman Indicted for Embezzling More Than 500,000 from Farwell Funeral Service in NashuaRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A North Carolina woman was indicted in connection with 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, previously of Nashua, was indicted on 10 counts of wire fraud on December 6, 2023. Simmons was arrested in North Carolina on December 11, 2023, and was ordered released on conditions on January 3, 2023.
According to the charging documents, 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.
Each charge of wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, and up to 3 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 and the Nashua Police Department led the investigation. 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.
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Rhode Island Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Her Role in a Conspiracy to Traffick Drugs to New HampshireRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Rhode Island woman was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for her role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Maylerin Urena, a/k/a/ Janet, 40, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe to 27 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On May 10, 2023, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
“The distribution of large quantities of drugs from northern Massachusetts into New Hampshire is a persistent problem,” said United States Attorney Jane Young. The “Ronnie and Janet” drug organization had been a substantial contributor to this problem for some time, distributing many kilograms of fentanyl and crack into our state. Today’s sentence shows that the people who operate these organizations will receive substantial punishment for their criminal conduct.”
“Illegal drug distribution ravages the foundations of our families and communities here in New Hampshire,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. “Let this sentencing serve as an example to those who distribute poisons like fentanyl and crack cocaine, that DEA will aggressively pursue and hold you accountable. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners here in New Hampshire and our solid relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Urena’s husband, Marbin Cruz-Gonzalez, a/k/a “Ronnie” was the leader of the drug organization. Urena’s primary role was to operate the telephones maintained by the organization as a dispatcher to coordinate the meetings between drug customers and drug runners. The defendant also trained other people to work for the organization as dispatchers.
The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Department of Homeland Security led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the United States Marshal Service; the Nashua Police Department; the Manchester Police Department; the New Hampshire State Police; the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office; the Hudson Police Department; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Bedford Police Department; the Merrimack Police Department; the Keene Police Department; the Goffstown Police Department; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force; the Massachusetts State Police; the Essex County Sheriff’s Department (Massachusetts); the Methuen Police Department (Massachusetts); the Haverhill Police Department (Massachusetts); the North Andover Police Department (Massachusetts); the Springfield Police Department (Vermont); the Maine State Police; the New Jersey State Police; the Essex County Sheriff’s Office (New Jersey); the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office (New Jersey); the Edison Police Department (New Jersey); the North Bergen Police Department (New Jersey); the Newark Police Department (New Jersey); the Bloomfield Police Department (New Jersey); the Edgewater Police Department (New Jersey); the Ridgefield Park Police Department (New Jersey); the Teaneck Police Department (New Jersey). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth Aframe and Jarad Hodes prosecuted the case.
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Second New York Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing over $200,000 in Products from Home Depot and Lowe’sRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A New York man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for transporting stolen goods from Home Depot and Lowe’s across state lines, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Deshun Jackson, 24, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 13 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Jackson was also ordered to pay $204,969.02 in restitution, of which $179,606.25 is payable to Lowe’s and $25,362.77 is payable to Home Depot. On September 15, 2023, Jackson pleaded guilty to Transportation of Stolen Goods. Jackson’s co-defendant, Jalil McIntyre, pled guilty on July 31, 2023, and was sentenced to 24 months in prison on November 6, 2023.
“Organized retail thefts have a significant impact on consumers by causing both financial loss and safety risks,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that federal law enforcement will continue to protect retail industry and consumers from this increasingly widespread problem by investigating, prosecuting and incarcerating offenders like the defendants.”
“What DeShun Jackson did –in stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-end merchandise from home improvement retailers all over New England - drives up costs for consumers and businesses everywhere,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence should be a warning to others that if you engage in organized retail theft and transport stolen goods across state lines like Mr. Jackson did, you too will face serious consequences for your criminal conduct.”
Jackson and McIntyre traveled to Lowe’s and Home Depots across the northeastern United States, including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey. They stole high-value commercial items, such as circuit breakers. They were seen on surveillance footage grabbing products off shelves, placing them into large plastic bags, and walking out of the stores. In total, they stole $204,969.02 worth of products across 24 separate thefts. They also attempted to steal another $46,619.07 worth of products during 11 additional unsuccessful thefts. The stolen products were brought back to New York, where both defendants lived.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office, the Rockingham County Attorney’s Office, the Rochester Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in New York, the Seabrook Police Department, the Nashua Police Department, the Windham Police Department, and the Derry Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
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NuDay Charity Sentenced for Illegal Exports to SyriaRead the Press Release
CONCORD – The New Hampshire charity NuDay, a/k/a NuDay Syria, was sentenced today in federal court for export offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
NuDay was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to five years of probation, the maximum penalty for an organizational defendant. NuDay was also ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. On September 8, 2023, NuDay pleaded guilty to three counts of Failure to File Export Information.
“Our national security depends on exporters truthfully disclosing where goods are being shipped to ensure that hostile foreign actors do not get their hands on potentially dangerous items,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E Young. “This prosecution shows that willful violations of export law, even by a non-profit charity, will result in criminal consequences.”
“This charity blatantly violated U.S. export control laws when it sent over 100 shipments of humanitarian goods to Syria, a country that is a designated state sponsor of terrorism, and in many instances, lied about where those shipments were going,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “This case highlights the FBI’s ongoing commitment to working with our law enforcement partners to prevent the erosion of public trust in charitable organizations by ensuring that anyone who engages in criminal activity in order to evade our laws and regulations is held accountable.”
“Customs and export laws exist to protect the integrity of our systems of commerce and to protect our national security. The individuals involved with NuDay knew they were breaking the law but did so anyway, sending shipments whose contents were falsely undervalued to Syria, a country subject to export restrictions and sanctions. As today’s sentence shows, these actions have consequences,” said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New England.
“Despite the availability of a limited waiver of the restrictions allowing for the export and re-export of a wide range of items necessary to provide humanitarian support to the Syrian people, NuDay devalued $8.3 million of goods to avoid reporting requirements and transshipped the items through a third country without disclosing their ultimate destination. The end did not justify the means in this case,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tambrini of the Office of Export Enforcement’s Boston Field Office.
NuDay was founded by Nadia Alawa as a non-profit charity in 2013 and is headquartered in Windham, New Hampshire. Alawa served as NuDay’s President, and several family members served as board members and employees. Between 2013 and 2019, NuDay claimed significant growth of in-kind donations, starting from approximately $231,000 in 2013 and reaching almost $71 million in 2019. By way of comparison, in 2019 OXFAM America reported approximately $73.5 million in donations, and the Syrian American Medical Society Foundation reported approximately $41.4 million in donations.
Between 2018 and 2021, NuDay made over 100 shipments to Syria, a country that was subject to sanctions and export restrictions. NuDay claimed that these shipments were worth over $100 million. NuDay had the items shipped to Mersin, Turkey, where another company would transship them into Syria. U.S. Department of Commerce regulations require exporters, such as NuDay, to report true and accurate information about the items being exported, including the shipment’s description, end user, and monetary value. However, NuDay falsely reported that the end destination of the shipments was Turkey and not Syria, and artificially deflated the value of the goods to be below the $2,500 reporting threshold. Alawa’s Facebook messages indicated that she and NuDay were aware of export restrictions, including the need to obtain export licenses, but ignored them.
As a condition of the plea, Nadia Alawa and her family members have ceased involvement with NuDay.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement, Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigations, and Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
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Hampton Man Indicted on Additional Fraud SchemesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A grand jury returned a superseding indictment against a Hampton man in connection with four fraud schemes, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Anthony M. Silva, 39, was indicted on a total of 10 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of mail fraud, and 8 counts of aggravated identity theft. Silva is scheduled to appear in federal court in Concord on January 8, 2024. Previously, on March 21, 2022, Silva was indicted on 3 counts of wire fraud, 3 counts of misuse of a Social Security number, and 3 counts of aggravated identity theft.
According to the charging documents and statements made in court, Silva orchestrated four separate fraud schemes using stolen identities. Specifically, Silva used stolen names, dates of birth, Social Security Numbers, and other identifiers to fraudulently obtain (1) unemployment insurance benefits from Vermont, (2) unemployment insurance benefits from Massachusetts, (3) American Express credit cards, and (4) CARES Act funds. The fraudulently obtained unemployment benefits and CARES Act funds were deposited either by check or direct deposit into dozens of accounts Silva controlled at multiple banks. Many of these accounts were in the names of individual victims or fictional organizations, with Silva listed as the trustee. Silva obtained more than $400,000 from Vermont, over $150,000 from Massachusetts, and $600,000 from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Silva was also able to use the credit cards to make a variety of purchases from retailers such as Victoria’s Secret. Silva also tried unsuccessfully to obtain additional CARES Act funding.
The charge of wire fraud and mail fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of either $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is higher. The charge of aggravated identity theft provides for a mandatory sentence of 2 years to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. 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, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General and United States Secret Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and John J. Kennedy are 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.
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Dover Man Indicted for Threatening to Kill Three Presidential CandidatesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Dover man has been indicted in connection with sending threatening text messages to three presidential candidates, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Tyler Anderson, 30, was charged with three counts of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. Anderson was arrested on December 9, 2023, and he made an initial appearance in federal court on December 11, 2023. On December 14, 2023, the Court released him on conditions.
According to the charging documents, Anderson sent a series of threatening text messages to three separate presidential campaigns going back to November 2023. On November 22, 2023, Anderson threatened to “impale” and “disembowel” one candidate. On December 6, 2023, Anderson threatened a second candidate in a series of text messages, including that he would “blow” the head off of the candidate and conduct a “mass shooting.” On December 8, 2023, Anderson threatened via text message that he would “blow” the “brains out” of a third candidate and “kill everyone” who would attend a then-upcoming campaign event.
Each charge provides for a sentence of up to five 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 Dover Police Department and the Portsmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles 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.
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Vermont Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Crack CocaineRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Vermont man pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to conspiring to distribute a controlled substance in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Lamar Carter, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, namely, cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for March 29, 2024. The defendant was indicted on August 29, 2022.
Carter was a leader of a drug distribution organization that obtained powder cocaine from New Jersey, “cooked” the cocaine to manufacture crack, and distributed the crack in and around Keene, New Hampshire. The organization had several employees who worked for Carter and conducted hand-to-hand drug transactions with customers. The group operated out of a local resident’s home, as well as several hotel rooms. During the investigation 364 grams of cocaine base and 2 handguns were seized.
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.
Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene Police Department.
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Nashua Man Indicted for Straw Purchasing FirearmsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Nashua man appeared in federal court, after being indicted on firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Mikell Baez, 25, was indicted on November 15, 2023 with six counts of making a false statement during the acquisition of a firearm. Baez made an initial appearance in federal court on December 19, 2023, and was released on conditions.
According to the charging document, on six separate occasions between August 3, 2021 and November 5, 2021, Mr. Baez straw purchased eight guns for someone else. He bought the guns from federally licensed firearms dealers in Merrimack, Hudson and Amherst, New Hampshire. Mr. Baez lied on the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) form for the purchases when he said he was the actual buyer/transferee of each firearm.
The charges provide for a sentence of up to 10 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande 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.
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Massachusetts Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute FentanylRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Boston, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord for conspiring to distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Victor Cuevas Romero, 27, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, namely, fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for April 3, 2024. The defendant was originally charged on June 6, 2023.
On May 19, 2023, at law enforcement’s direction, a cooperating source called a number that law enforcement knew to be operated by a drug trafficking organization and placed an order for fentanyl. The individual who answered the phone, who was not the defendant, directed the confidential source to an address on Belmont Street in Manchester to make the drug transaction. The confidential source went to the address, and shortly thereafter, the defendant drove there and picked up the cooperating source in his car. Inside his car, the defendant provided the cooperating source with fentanyl in exchange for $100.
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 and the Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Jarad Hodes are prosecuting the case.
This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Derry Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Importing, Manufacturing, and Distributing SteroidsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Derry man pleaded guilty in federal court to possession with intent to distribute steroids and causing a drug to become misbranded after shipment in interstate commerce, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Ralph Cardarelli, 44, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute steroids and causing a drug to become misbranded after shipment in interstate commerce. U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for April 2, 2024. Cardarelli was indicted on August 16, 2023.
During the execution of a search warrant at Cardarelli’s residence on March 23, 2023, federal investigations discovered over 4800 vials and bottles of suspected controlled substances and prescription drugs, including: Nandrolone Phenylpropionate; Trenbolone Acetate; Dromostanolone Propionate; Boldenone Undecylenate; Testosterone Propionate; Trenbolone Enanthate; Nandrolone Decanoate; Testosterone Enanthate; and Testosterone Cypionate. These drugs are commonly known as steroids. Evidence was also discovered through the search warrant that Cardarelli was importing these drugs, manufacturing, and packaging them in his residence, and dispensing the drugs without requiring a prescription.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least 4 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $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 Food & Drug Administration - Office of Criminal Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Derry Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.
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Maine Man Pleads Guilty for Threatening Portsmouth High SchoolRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Maine man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to charges in connection to the online threats he made to the Portsmouth High School on April 12, 2023, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Kyle Hendrickson, 25, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate threatening communications and one count of possessing a firearm in a school zone. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliot scheduled sentencing for March 15, 2024. Hendrickson was initially arrested on a criminal complaint on April 13, 2023, and a grand jury returned the two-count indictment on September 13, 2023.
Hendrickson posted a video to his SnapChat account on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in which he brandished a handgun while in a vehicle outside of the Portsmouth High School. The video includes a text overlay that reads “imma shoot up the school.” School surveillance footage placed Hendrickson’s vehicle outside the high school at the time of the video. Law enforcement later recovered an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, camouflage body armor, a handgun holster, a red-dot sight, and numerous rounds of ammunition from Hendrickson’s vehicle. The handgun that Hendrickson used in the SnapChat video was also recovered near a motel where Hendrickson had stayed in Maine on the night of April 12, 2023.
Each charge provides for a sentence of up to five 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, Boston Division, and the Portsmouth Police Department led the investigation. The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Somersworth Police Department, the Portland (Maine) Police Department, and the Berwick (Maine) Police Department provided valuable assistance. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.
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Dover Man Arrested and Charged with Threatening to Kill a Presidential CandidateRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Dover man has been arrested and charged in connection with sending text messages that threatened a presidential candidate and attendees at a campaign event scheduled to take place in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Tyler Anderson, 30, was charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. Anderson will make an initial appearance in federal court in Concord today, December 11, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.
According to the charging documents, Anderson received a text message from the victim’s campaign notifying him of a political event in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Anderson responded to the text message on December 8, 2023, stating: “Great, another opportunity for me to blow his brains out!” and “I’m going to kill everyone who attends and then f*** their corpses.”
The charge provides for a sentence of up to five 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 Dover and Portsmouth Police Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jarad Hodes and Matthew Hunter are 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.
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Two Former Nurses Indicted in Connection to the Diversion of Dangerous Narcotics by Medical ProfessionalsRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Newbury woman and Northfield woman, two former nurses, were indicted in connection to the diversion of dangerous narcotics by medical professionals, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Robin Nichols, 63, of Newbury, was indicted on one count of Tampering with Consumer Products and one count of Obtaining a Controlled Drug by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Deception, or Subterfuge. Nichols will appear in federal court in Concord on December 8, 2023.
Lisa Richardson, 47, of Northfield, was indicted on one count of Tampering with Consumer Products and one count of Obtaining a Controlled Drug by Misrepresentation, Fraud, Deception, or Subterfuge. Richardson will appear in federal court in Concord on December 8, 2023.
According to the charging documents related to Robin Nichols, on April 15, 2023, while working as a nurse at Catholic Medical Center, Nichols removed a quantity of fentanyl, a narcotic painkiller drug in liquid form, from a syringe intended for an operating room patient and which she knew was intended for that patient and replaced the fentanyl with a quantity of saline.
According to the charging documents related to Lisa Richardson, on December 30, 2022, while working as a nurse at Concord Hospital, Richardson entered the room of a patient in the Intensive Care Unit (“ICU”) and removed a quantity of fentanyl, a narcotic painkiller drug in liquid form, from an intravenous line bag attached to the patient and which she knew was being dispensed to that patient, and replaced the fentanyl with a quantity of saline.
Nichols and Richardson’s charges of tampering with a consumer product provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000. The charge of obtaining a controlled drug by misrepresentation, fraud, deception, or subterfuge provides for a sentence of up to 4 years in prison, up to one year 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 Food & Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration jointly led these investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the cases.
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.
Law enforcement in the District of New Hampshire has utilized resources to enforce federal laws in connection to the diversion of dangerous narcotics by medical professionals. In June 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office settled a $2 million civil action with Cheshire Medical Center for their failure to fulfill obligations under the Controlled Substances Act, which enabled a nurse to steal twenty-three intravenous bags of fentanyl solution from an automatic medication dispensing machine. Also in June 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office settled a $300,000 civil action with PillPack by Amazon, a pharmacy, to resolve allegations that they violated the Controlled Substances Act, which risked the division of drugs that are often abused in our communities.
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Former Nashua Man Sentenced for Transporting Stolen Apple Products Worth $2 MillionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A former Nashua man was sentenced in federal court for transporting stolen Apple products worth $2 million, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Guangwei “William” Wu, 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to one year and one day in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $10,000 fine. Wu was also ordered to pay $2 million in restitution, which he has already repaid. On June 22, 2023, Wu pleaded guilty to the interstate transportation of stolen property.
“The defendant engaged in a sophisticated fraud scheme where he accepted a bribe of significant value, diverted shipments of stolen Apple products worth approximately $2 million, and then forged a federal agent’s signature to cover his tracks. These are serious offenses,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The Court’s imposed sentence of incarceration in federal prison and full restitution are just consequences for his bold crimes.”
“Guangwei Wu accepted a bribe, shipped $2 million worth of stolen Apple products to Hong Kong, and then lied about it. Actions like his hurt hard-working business owners trying to make an earnest living, and today’s sentence holds Mr. Wu accountable for his crimes,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service continuously seeks to identify and stop complex fraud schemes. Guangwei Wu’s reshipping scheme of stolen Apple products resulted in millions of dollars in losses,” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “We will continue our work with our law enforcement partners to stop those who are engaged in these types of criminal activities.”
The defendant owned and operated a transshipping company in Manchester called Hai Xing Qiao. In fall 2022, the victim company purchased Apple products, including iPads, iPhones, Apple Watches, and Macbooks, and then hired Hai Xing Qiao to forward the products onto Hong Kong. However, Yongfu Huo, another Hong Kong-based company, paid a bribe of over $700,000 to the defendant to have the products shipped to Yongfu Huo instead. To cover up his tracks, the defendant claimed that law enforcement had seized the Apple products and sent the victim company a false document titled “Disclaimer of Ownership” purportedly issued by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The defendant also forged the signature of a federal agent on the document.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.
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Felon Indicted and Arrested for the Illegal Possession of a Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man was indicted and arrested in connection with his possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Eric Edmondson, 45, was indicted with one count of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition by a previously convicted felon on November 15, 2023. Edmondson appeared in federal court on November 28, 2023, and was detained.
On September 11, 2023, Edmondson was found in possession of a privately manufactured 9mm firearm (also known as a ghost gun) and 5 rounds of commercially available ammunition after a motor vehicle stop. As a previously convicted felon, Edmondson is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law.
The charge 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.
The New Hampshire State Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation. 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.
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Sanbornton Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Sanbornton man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Timothy Ryan, 35, pleaded guilty to an information charging him with possession of child sexual abuse material. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for March 12, 2024.
According to court records and statements made in court, 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, and later obtained a federal search warrant to seize and search his electronic devices. Forensic examination of the defendant’s cell phone revealed the presence of approximately 2,600 files of apparent 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 led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New England Cyber Fraud Task Force, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Nashua Police Department, the Grafton County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sanbornton Police Department. 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.
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Manchester Man Sentenced to More Than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Stealing over $165,500 in a Series of RobberiesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Manchester man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for Hobbs Act Robbery and Bank Robbery, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Hector Rivera Ayala, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe to 130 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Rivera Ayala was also ordered to pay $171,677.37 in restitution. On April 18, 2023, Rivera Ayala pleaded guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery and Bank Robbery.
“The defendant’s brazen and repeated criminal conduct placed the lives of numerous people in jeopardy as he robbed gas stations and a bank,” said U.S. Attorney Jane Young. “As demonstrated by the sentence of more than a decade in federal prison, people who threaten, steal and place others in physical jeopardy will be removed from society for significant periods of time. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize prosecuting and incarcerating violent offenders like the defendant in order to keep our communities safe.”
“Hector Rivera Ayala went on a robbery spree in Manchester, using what appeared to be a real firearm to threaten and intimidate his victims, to steal tens of thousands of dollars. Today’s significant sentence removes this dangerous individual from our community and highlights the tenacity of the FBI and our law enforcement partners to identify and apprehend criminals like him who threaten public safety,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.
“This man terrorized business owners in our city, threatening them with a weapon and putting them on edge,” said Chief Allen Aldenberg of the Manchester Police Department. “I am very pleased with Mr. Ayala’s sentence. It sends a strong message that this criminal behavior will not be tolerated in Manchester.”
In December 2019, Rivera Ayala robbed four gas stations and one bank in Manchester, including Rapid Refill on Second Street; Brother’s Express Gas Station on Union Street; Shell Gas Station on Eddy Road; Shell Gas Station on Hanover Street; and the Bank of New England on Elm Street. Each robbery was captured on video surveillance. For each robbery, the defendant was seen entering the gas station and bank with his face partially obscured and carrying what appeared to be a firearm. During the first robbery, at the Shell Gas Station on Eddy Road, the defendant approached the store clerk from behind and demanded money from both registers. He also ordered a customer to withdraw money from an ATM. During the second Shell Gas Station robbery, on Hanover Street, the defendant wore white face paint and used what appeared to be a double-barreled shotgun. He demanded money from the safe and registers and stole money and other items from customers who were present. One victim reported that the defendant threatened:
If you call the police within 30 minutes after I leave, I will come back and blow your brains out.
Investigators recovered a shawl and a BB gun from the crime scene of one gas station. The defendant’s DNA was found on the shawl. In total, the defendant stole more than $5,500 from the gas stations and more than $160,000 from the bank.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter prosecuted the case.
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Mexican National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegal Reentry into the United StatesRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Mexican national was sentenced today in federal court for his illegal reentry into the United States after being deported twice, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Luis Aragon-Lara, 40 was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe to 24 months in prison and one year of supervised release. On August 16, 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of illegal reentry.
“The defendant was using counterfeit United States currency, which impacts our local businesses and economy. Even worse, he conducted this criminal behavior after having been removed from this country repeatedly,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Today’s sentence sends a deterrent message that this office will vigorously prosecute individuals that are in the United States illegally and committing crimes in New Hampshire.”
“Those who seek to exploit our immigration law and engage in fraudulent financial crimes will not be allowed to use our immigration system to victimize the residents of New Hampshire,” said Todd M. Lyons, Field Office Director, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Boston. “We applaud the commitment of the U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire in prosecuting this case. Together with the great teamwork of our law enforcement partners at the Office of the U.S. Attorney for New Hampshire and the Keene Police Department we remain committed to protecting communities in New Hampshire from criminal immigration violators.”
On October 26, 2022, the Keene Police Department arrested the defendant in connection with the passing of counterfeit currency at retail stores in the area. A subsequent investigation revealed that the defendant was again illegally in the United States, after having been deported on or about June 9, 2009, and April 3, 2020.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward prosecuted the case.
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Derry Man Pleads Guilty to Passport Fraud and Hacking a Telecommunications CompanyRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Derry man pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to passport fraud and wire fraud in connection with hacking a telecommunications company, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young and Acting U.S. Attorney Morris Pasqual announce.
Andrew Mahn, 28, pleaded guilty to one count of passport fraud and one count of wire fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Landya B. McCafferty scheduled sentencing for March 7, 2024. Mahn was charged with passport fraud by indictment in the District of New Hampshire on February 15, 2023. Mahn was charged with hacking a telecommunications company by complaint in the Northern District of Illinois on March 17, 2021, and by indictment on October 4, 2021.
Mahn previously worked as a radio technician for a telecommunications company based in Chicago. He later worked for the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport). While working for Massport, Mahn sent spear-phishing emails to several employees at his former employer and tricked them into entering their login credentials into a fake website. The defendant also sent text messages to the employees and deceived them into providing him their multi-factor authentication code. Eventually, Mahn was able to get access to the telecommunications company’s servers. He used anonymous Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, an account tied to his Massport email address, and bitcoin to help facilitate the hack.
While on release pending trial for hacking the telecommunications company, Mahn applied for a passport in a false name in Atkinson, New Hampshire. He provided false documents, including a falsely generated New Hampshire birth certificate and state identification card. Mahn wrote to a congressional office seeking to expedite the passport, stating the following:
I have just found out I need to book international travel shortly for family reasons in the coming weeks to Germany. I am trying to figure out the status of the application and when I can expect it to be processed and shipped.
The charge of wire fraud provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, and restitution. The charge of passport fraud 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 U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Postal Inspection Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and John J. Kennedy from the District of New Hampshire and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Bond from the Northern District of Illinois are prosecuting the case.
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Felon Sentenced to More Than 6 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing Heroin, Fentanyl, Firearms, and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
CONCORD – A Lebanon man was sentenced in federal court today for possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances, namely, heroin and fentanyl, as well as two firearms charges, United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Marshall Dimick, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Landya McCafferty to 78 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On July 17, 2023, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and one count of carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
“The defendant was prohibited from having firearms and ammunition as a previously convicted felon, yet he continued to carry a loaded gun while also in possession of dangerous drugs he intended to traffic into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “New Hampshire law enforcement is committed to pursuing and incarcerating individuals like the defendant that use gun violence to distribute drugs.”
"ATF will continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement counterparts to vigorously combat drug traffickers and the threat they pose to the citizens of New Hampshire by illegally possessing firearms in furtherance of their illegal drug trade,” said James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Boston Field Division.
On July 9, 2020, an officer of the Lebanon Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by the defendant. A search of the vehicle revealed a handgun in the center console with a loaded magazine, 540 small bags containing 10 grams of a mixture containing heroin and fentanyl, over $2,000 in cash, and a cell phone. The phone contained texts of drug activity between the defendant and others, as well as a conversation between the defendant and his mother referencing the gun in the car.
The Lebanon Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms led the investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande.
Manchester Man and Woman Indicted for Manufacturing Methamphetamine in Their ResidenceRead the Press Release
CONCORD – Two Manchester residents have been indicted for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine in their home and possessing the necessary chemicals and equipment to do so, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
Charles Winchell and Catherine Quinn, both 42 years old, were charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine in a place where a person under the age of 18 was residing or was present, and possession of equipment, chemicals, products, and materials to manufacture methamphetamine. Winchell and Quinn were previously charged by complaint and arrested on September 18, 2023. They were released on conditions.
According to the charging documents, in 2023 Quinn and Winchell frequently purchased pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter medication and the primary ingredient used for the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at their residence and found pseudoephedrine and other ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine, such as lighter fluid, drain cleaner, and batteries, which contain lithium strips used to create a chemical reaction.
The charge of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least 3 years of supervised release and a fine of up to $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 Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department are leading the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske 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.
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