District of New Hampshire

CONCORD – A Dover man was sentenced today in federal court for distributing fentanyl and possessing additional fentanyl with intent to distribute in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Tyler Ward, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 60 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On March 3, 2023, Ward pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing fentanyl, and one count of possessing fentanyl with intent to distribute it.

“The Dover Police Department and our federal partners successfully stopped these dangerous drugs from entering our communities,” U.S Attorney Jane E. Young said. “The defendant’s sentence should serve as a warning to those who traffic deadly drugs, that upon conviction, this office will seek significant periods of incarceration.”

“Tyler Ward dealt deadly fentanyl right out of his home in Dover and is now heading to prison for endangering his community,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The lengthy federal sentence Mr. Ward received today illustrates how the FBI and our law enforcement partners will work together to investigate, disrupt, and ensure those who insist on bringing harmful crime to our neighborhoods are held accountable.”

On February 2, 2022, and February 11, 2022, law enforcement officers conducted two controlled purchases of five grams of fentanyl each from Ward at his apartment in Dover.  At the time of his arrest on March 3, 2022, Ward possessed eight grams of fentanyl.  Law enforcement officers located an additional 625 grams of fentanyl in his apartment. Ward admitted to law enforcement in a post-arrest interview that he had intended to sell this fentanyl.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande prosecuted 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 – Justin Gebo will appear before Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone for an initial appearance in federal court today for being a prohibited person in possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. 

According to the charging documents, one of the alleged firearms was recovered during a homicide investigation on June 3, 2023 in Franklin, New Hampshire.

Gebo, 28, was charged with three counts of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, including (1) being in possession of a firearm while under indictment; (2) being a felon in possession of a firearm; and (3) being a user of illegal drugs in possession of a firearm.

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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CONCORD – A Maine man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Concord to cyberstalking an eight-year-old child, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Michael Chick, age 40, pleaded guilty to cyberstalking. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for September 25, 2023.  Chick was arrested on a criminal complaint in August 2022 and was indicted on September 6, 2022.

Chick, a former school bus driver, began stalking an eight-year-old child on his bus route at least as early as March 2022. Chick gave the victim candy and small toys, and asked for permission to attend the child’s sporting events.  Later, Chick provided the victim with cell phones and instructed the child to call Chick when he was alone.  Chick told the child lies about a secret organization that would kidnap and torture the victim and kill the child’s family if the child did not fulfill various demands, which Chick purported to be relaying to the victim on behalf of the organization.  Chick traveled to the child’s home at night and photographed the inside of their home by peering through the windows.  Chick also placed GPS trackers on both of the victim’s parents’ vehicles.  A forensic examination of Chick’s cell phone revealed surreptitiously recorded images and videos of the child and their family at various public locations such as retail stores, theme parks, and sporting events.

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

Homeland Security Investigations led the federal investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Greenland Police Department, the Eliot Police Department in Maine, the Old Town Police Department in Maine, the New England State Police Information Network, the New Hampshire Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Massachusetts State Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – A Weare man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing firearms and ammunition as a prohibited person, and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Brian Elliott, age 32, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, and two counts of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for September 21, 2023. The defendant was indicted on March 21, 2022.

Elliott fled on foot following a vehicle stop by an officer of the Goffstown Police Department on May 22, 2021. During flight, Elliott dropped a backpack containing approximately 138 grams of fentanyl and various types of ammunition.  A loaded firearm was also recovered from the scene the next day.  On May 24, 2021, Elliott was apprehended at a Holiday Inn in Manchester, where negotiators succeeded in getting him out of his room.  A subsequent search of his hotel room yielded additional fentanyl, as well as another firearm and ammunition.  Elliott is a convicted felon and is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

The charging statute for the drug offense provides a sentence of at least five years and no greater than 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release of at least four years, and a maximum fine of $5,000,000. The charging statute for the felon in possession of firearms and ammunition offenses provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a maximum term of supervised release of four years, and a maximum fine of $250,000.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Goffstown Police Department and Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case.  

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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 – 21 defendants have been indicted and an additional defendant has been charged in connection with an organized drug trafficking ring operating out of Manchester and Boston, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Over the past day and a half, law enforcement arrested 12 of these defendants on conspiracy to distribute controlled substance charges. During these arrests, law enforcement seized approximately 1.6 kilograms of suspected cocaine, 150 grams of suspected cocaine case, 250 grams of suspected fentanyl, 100 bags of suspected controlled substances packaged for sale, $26,000 in cash, and four firearms. The defendants are scheduled to appear in federal court at various times this week.

The following defendants have been charged in federal court:

1. Juan Ramon Soto Baez aka “Ricky,” aka “Nicolas Lopez Rosado”, 53, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Soto Baez is in custody. He is scheduled for a detention hearing in federal court in Concord on June 8, 2023 at 2:00pm.
2. Osvaldo David Soto Jimenez aka “Tony”, 29, of Dorchester, Massachusetts. Soto Jimenez is in custody.
3. Flemin Soto Baez aka “Carlos” aka “Joel Rodriguez”, 38, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Soto Baez is in custody.
4. Antonio Aguasvivas aka “Toni”, 27, of Providence, Rhode Island. Aguasvivas is in custody.
5. Melissa Rey Ramos aka “Ralphie”, 34, of Peabody, Massachusetts. Rey Ramos is in custody.
6. Angel Leonel Fuentes Pizarro, 42, of Boston, Massachusetts. Pizarro is in custody. He is scheduled for a detention hearing in federal court in Concord on June 9. 2023 at 11:30am.
7. Alejandro Reyes Rosado, 29, of UNKNOWN.
8. Maria Camacho aka “Christina”, 43, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
9. Luis Maldonado aka “Tony”, 48, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Maldonado is in custody. He is scheduled for a detention hearing in federal court in Concord on June 8, 2023 at 10:00am.
10. Yefris Cruz Andujar, 23, of Providence, Rhode Island.
11. Hidequell Gonzalez Viscaino, 22, of Waterbury, Connecticut.
12. Katie Girgus, 29, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Girgus is in custody.
13. Nickolas Starkey, 34, of Manchester, New Hampshire. Starkey is in custody.
14. Daniel Beldin, 33, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
15. Dari Rafael Baez Martinez aka “Chino”, 32, of Boston, Massachusetts. Baez Martinez is in custody.
16. Leander Jose Rivera Soto, 28, of Boston, Massachusetts.
17. Gabriel Hernandez, 30, of Boston, Massachusetts. Hernandez is in custody.
18. Jose Cordero Ortiz, 37, of Boston, Massachusetts.
19. Victor Arias Mejia, 38, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
20. Jhonattan Jimenez, 36, of Boston, Massachusetts.
21. Alesha Neault, 37, of Manchester, New Hampshire.
22. Brandon Rivera, 21, of Boston, Massachusetts. Rivera is in custody.

According to court records, this drug trafficking ring, led by Juan Ramon Soto Baez (also known by various aliases, including “Ricky”) and his associates, has allegedly been supplying the Manchester area with fentanyl and crack cocaine for at least the past 4 years. These individuals trafficked large quantities of fentanyl and crack cocaine from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. They utilized a business model indicative of a sophisticated drug trafficking operation, which included using dispatch telephone numbers that customers would call to order drugs. Drug runners would drive vehicles to meet customers at predetermined locations to sell them drugs, often inside the runners’ vehicles.

The charge provides 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshal Service, the New Hampshire State Police, the Nashua Police Department, the Boston Police Department, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, Probation & Parole. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad Hodes, OCDETF Coordinator, 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.

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 – A former Ohio man pleaded guilty today in federal court to the illegal possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Bernard Murphy, a/k/a Bernard Malik El, 38, pleaded guilty to the illegal possession of two firearms as a prohibited person.  Chief U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for September 18, 2023.

On May 2021, the defendant had been residing at the Days Inn in Campton for several months when Campton Police Department received a tip about his potential involvement in narcotics trafficking at the hotel.  Upon searching the defendant’s hotel room, law enforcement seized a 9MM handgun and a loaded 12-gauge shotgun.  Murphy is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction in the State of Ohio in 2008. 

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Campton Police Department led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – A Franklin man has been charged in connection with threatening to kill a United States Senator, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Brian Landry, 66, was charged with threatening to assault, kidnap or murder a United States official in connection with the official’s performance of official duties.  Landry will make an initial appearance in federal court today in Concord at 2:30pm. 

According to the charging documents, Landry called a district field office of a United States Senator and left a voicemail on May 17, 2023, stating:

“Hey stupid. I’m a veteran sniper.  And unless you change your ways, I got my scope pointed in your direction and I’m coming to get you.  You’re a dead man walking, you piece of f***ing sh**.”

Investigators identified the phone call as coming from a number associated with Landry.  When they interviewed Landry, he admitted to having called the Senator’s office but did not initially recall exactly what he said in the voicemail.

The charge provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, up to 3 years of supervised release, and a fine 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 United States Capitol Police led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police, and the Franklin and the Manchester Police Departments. 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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CONCORD, NH – United States Attorney Jane E. Young and New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella announce that New Hampshire is seeing a rise in complaints from Medicare beneficiaries receiving COVID-19 tests they did not request, a signal someone may be using, and could continue to use their Medicare information fraudulently to bill the federal government, potentially impacting a recipient’s Medicare coverage or benefits.

“Stealing taxpayer-funded resources from our vulnerable neighbors will not be tolerated in the Granite State. We are actively working with our law enforcement partners to detect and disrupt this type of fraud,” said Attorney General Formella. “Signs of this illegal activity should be immediately reported, as experts warn Medicare information can be as valuable to bad actors as credit card or social security numbers.”

“Unfortunately, the pandemic provided fraudsters with many opportunities to take advantage of medical needs and services to benefit themselves,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “This new and emerging scam is directed at stealing from U.S. taxpayers, by charging Medicare for unwanted and unnecessary COVID-19 test kits. Please protect yourselves- do not ever give personal or medical information to obtain free pandemic related products, including test kits, vaccines, and other services. Medicare will not call you and offer COVID-19 related products.”

If you or a loved one are receiving unsolicited COVID-19 test kits or requests for your Medicare information, you are urged to report it to the U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (www.oig.gov/fraud/report-fraud) or call 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).

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CONCORD – A Keene man pleaded guilty in federal court to robbing the Service Credit Union on Winchester Street in Keene, New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Ethan Clark, 31, pleaded guilty to bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 7, 2023. Clark was charged on May 10, 2023.

On November 28, 2022, Clark gave a bank teller at the Service Credit Union in Keene a note demanding money, stealing more than $4,700.  Surveillance footage shows that Clark left the bank and walked to a van he stole from his former employer. Later that day, Clark was seen driving the van in Lawrence, Massachusetts.  When law enforcement searched the vehicle, they found a note consistent with the robbery note given to the teller.

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

The FBI led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene Police Department and the Lawrence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – A former New Hampshire doctor pleaded guilty today in federal court to health care fraud, in connection with a scheme to defraud Medicare by prescribing durable medical equipment without ever seeing, speaking to, or otherwise examining patients, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces. 

Steven Powell, 53, of Alpharetta, Georgia, pleaded guilty to one count of health care fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for August 30, 2023. Powell was charged via Information on April 27, 2023.

Powell agreed to electronically sign orders for durable medical equipment (DME), such as knee and ankle braces, that he knew were used to submit more than $1.9 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare.  Powell received kickbacks in exchange for each doctor’s order he signed authorizing DME that were not medically necessary, and not legitimately prescribed.   

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Kennedy and First Assistant United States Attorney Jay McCormack are prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – A California man was sentenced today in federal court for trafficking methamphetamine in California and New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Robert Perez, Jr., 33, formerly of Perris, California was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Steven J. McAuliffe to 10 years in prison and three years of supervised release. On February 8, 2023, Perez plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

“This office continues to aggressively prosecute those who traffic large quantities of narcotics into New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “Like fentanyl, methamphetamine is an insidiously dangerous drug, and its use directly contributes to New Hampshire’s overdose death toll. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement, we were able to bring the defendant to justice and ensure his incarceration for a lengthy period.”

 Beginning in late-2020 or early 2021, Perez conspired with individuals in California and New Hampshire to ship a total of approximately 30 pounds of methamphetamine through the U.S. Postal Service from California to several individuals in New Hampshire for distribution. In August 2022, United States Drug Enforcement agents from New Hampshire travelled to Riverside, California, and arrested Perez.

“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. Perez accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are contributing to the drug crisis in the Granite State.  This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service aims to identify and disrupt drug traffickers across the country, more importantly, here in our community” said Ketty Larco-Ward, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division. “Postal Inspectors accomplish this by focusing on illicit drug mailers and by maintaining an aggressive drug parcel-detection program. We will continue to coordinate with our law enforcement partners to dismantle drug trafficking involving the U.S. Mail.”

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Postal Inspection Service lead the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police and the Nashua Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis.

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CONCORD – The U.S. Attorney’s Office was allocated 2 new attorney positions in the federal budget to address civil rights, domestic terrorism, and violent crime in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

“These new positions will allow us to focus added resources on enforcing federal laws aimed at curbing violence, domestic terrorism and civil rights violations,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Furthermore, it has been a priority of our office to enhance our civil rights work in various communities throughout the state, and this dedicated position is a step forward in achieving that goal.”

One attorney will be the first Assistant U.S. Attorney dedicated to promoting civil rights in the State of New Hampshire, handling both criminal and civil cases. The second hire will address domestic terrorism and other violent crimes throughout the state. 

Job solicitations for the two new positions will be posted on www.usajobs.gov, expected early summer 2023.

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CONCORD – A former Jefferson man was sentenced today in federal court for possessing eight firearms and 600 rounds of ammunition as a prohibited person, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Hunter Ramsay, 29, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty to 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release.  On January 23, 2023, Ramsay pleaded guilty to one count of possession of firearms as a previously convicted person. 

“The defendant illegally possessed an arsenal of ammunition and firearms, which included three sawed-off shotguns.  He compounded his threat to the community by leading law enforcement on a dangerous high-speed pursuit,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “I commend the brave acts and poise under pressure of the officers and State troopers who successfully brought Ramsay to justice.” 

 “ATF will continue to actively pursue individuals with firearms and/or ammunition, who are legally prohibited from doing so. These weapons continue to be used to further criminal activity, and ATF is committed to stopping it,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson.

On July 7, 2021, Ramsay was wanted on outstanding state warrants for probation violations in both New Hampshire and Vermont when he was observed by New Hampshire State Police driving a truck in Bethlehem. Ramsay initially fled, so his vehicle was disabled by law enforcement’s deployment of spike strips in Littleton. Ramsay was taken into custody, and a total of eight firearms and over 600 rounds of ammunition were recovered on him and in his vehicle. At the time, Ramsay was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law as a result of a prior felony conviction in Vermont state court. Ramsay has been detained since his July 2021 arrest.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police, the Littleton Police Department, the Coos County Attorney’s Office, and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.

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CONCORD – A former Plaistow man was sentenced today in federal court for his intent to traffic more than 2 pounds of cocaine in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announced.

Corey Buckley, 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 37 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Buckley was also ordered to pay a fine of $5000. On February 2, 2023, Buckley pleaded guilty to charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

As a result of a months-long investigation into Buckley’s drug trafficking, law enforcement found approximately 1.1 kilograms cocaine in the kitchen of a residence where Buckley was living in May 2022.  Law enforcement also seized a ledger and a scale, along with $50,000 in U.S. currency, and two firearms.  Buckley has been detained since his arrest on May 19, 2022.  The $50,000 in currency, firearms, and a Rolex watch were forfeited as part of the resolution. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided from the Massachusetts State Police and the Haverhill Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Charles L. Rombeau, with assistance from Assistant United States Attorney Robert Rabuck on the forfeiture part of the case.

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CONCORD – United States Attorney Jane E. Young announces the recipients of the 2023 Law Enforcement Awards in honor of National Police Week. More than 30 federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel are being recognized for their contributions to the success of federal cases during the 2022 calendar year.

These awards recognize the outstanding collaboration, investigative achievement, victim service, and exceptional contributions to identifying critical intelligence by federal agents, state, and local officers, and a K9. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the District of New Hampshire will host a formal ceremony to honor these individuals in September 2023.

“Law enforcement personnel, and their families, make sacrifices every day in order to put their service to our communities first,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The Law Enforcement Awards are an opportunity for us to thank the officers for their hard work, their families for their sacrifices, and to recognize their part in obtaining justice.”

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

1. Alton Police Department
2. Internal Revenue Service
3. Federal Bureau of Investigation
4. New Hampshire State Police
5. Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office
6. U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General
7. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations
8. U.S. Postal Inspection Service

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

1. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
2. Department of Defense, Office of Inspector General
3. Federal Bureau of Investigation
4. Manchester Police Department
5. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General
6. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration
7. U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General
8. U.S. Small Business Administration, Office of Inspector General
9. U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration

The Exceptional Contribution to a Federal Investigation/Prosecution Award is reserved for recipients whose actions impact law enforcement’s ability to achieve certain capabilities. In this case, the recipients enabled law enforcement to identify critical intelligence. The following department is being honored:

1. Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office

Recipients in two cases will also receive the Victim Service Award for extraordinary assistance to victims of a federal crime. The following departments and agencies are being honored:

1. Alton Police Department
2. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations
3. Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office

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CONCORD – A Salem man was sentenced today in federal court for the unlawful possession of machine guns, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Kyle Morris, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 18 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Morris was also ordered to pay a fine of $1000. On January 17, 2023, Morris pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of machine guns. He was ordered to forfeit to the government the two machine guns seized during the execution of the search warrant at his home.

“The defendant expressed an interest in perpetrating horrific acts of violence against racial and religious minorities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “Those beliefs coupled with his illegal possession of machine guns pose a danger to our communities and today’s sentence sends a clear message that such conduct will result in not only a felony conviction but in incarceration.”

"Today, Kyle Morris learned his fate for illegally possessing two machine guns, while advocating for a race war and the bombing of mosques and synagogues. Weapons, he collected in furtherance of his desire to commit racially motivated violence,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “I commend the diligent work conducted by our New Hampshire Joint Terrorism Task Force for removing this threat from our community."

Morris kept the machine guns in a locked gun room in his home.  This locked room also contained over 20 other firearms and various Nazi paraphernalia, including a Nazi uniform, two Nazi flags, and a framed photo of Adolf Hitler.

In private correspondence, he advocated for bombing mosques, synagogues, and diversity centers, and for starting a race war.  He expressed an interest in participating in lone wolf attacks in Massachusetts involving shootings in Lawrence, culminating in a plan to drive a truck bomb into the Massachusetts State House.  Morris also wanted to “mag dump a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters, especially the darker ones.” 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Z. Krasinski and Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

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CONCORD – A Rochester woman was sentenced today in federal court for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Jennelle Brown, 38, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 60 months in prison.  On January 18, 2023, Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Brown’s co-defendant, Bradford Sargent, also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and will be sentenced on July 6, 2023.

“Today’s sentence sends a message to the defendant and other drug traffickers that such illegal conduct will be prosecuted and will result in significant periods of incarceration,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “The outstanding collaborative efforts of federal and local law enforcement stopped those drugs from entering the community.”

Brown and Sargent sold drugs multiple times from their hotel room in Portsmouth. When law enforcement searched their room, they uncovered large quantities of money, drugs, and drug ledgers.  Searches of two vehicles, storage units, and safety deposit boxes uncovered more currency and drugs.  In total, law enforcement seized over $130,000, 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl, almost 650 grams of methamphetamine, and smaller amounts of cocaine.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Strafford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Jarad E. Hodes prosecuted the case.

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CONCORD – A Nashua man was sentenced on May 11, 2023 in federal court for trafficking methamphetamine in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Philip Wetmore, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 8 years in federal prison and 4 years of supervised release. On February 3, 2023, pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. 

“The sentence imposed reflects the severity of the defendant’s criminal conduct, that being trafficking methamphetamine into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Drug traffickers like the defendant will be prosecuted and will serve lengthy periods of incarceration.”   

“In selling crystal meth on the streets of Nashua, while carrying a firearm when he was prohibited from doing so, Philip Wetmore has continued to demonstrate why he is a serious threat to the citizens of New Hampshire,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Today’s sentence is another example of our Major Offender Task Force’s commitment to removing criminals that plague our communities with drugs, guns, and violence from our streets.”

On two occasions in February 2022, Wetmore sold approximately 81 grams of crystal methamphetamine to an individual in Nashua. The FBI arrested Wetmore after the second drug sale. At the time of his arrest, Wetmore had a loaded firearm on him. The FBI subsequently seized approximately 671 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a second loaded firearm, and other items associated with drug trafficking from Wetmore’s car. Wetmore is legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department. The case was 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 at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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CONCORD – A Methuen man was sentenced today in federal court for conspiring to steal firearms from three different New Hampshire gun stores, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Johariel Quezada, 19, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliot to 24 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Quezada’s restitution hearing has been scheduled for August 9, 2023. Quezada and his two co-defendants, William Mejia and Ethan Ayala, were indicted on June 13, 2022.  On January 5, 2023, Quezada pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. Mejia pleaded guilty to similar charges and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 7, 2023. Ayala is scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2024.

“Stolen firearms often fuel the gun violence that has become far too common in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Stopping the flow of stolen firearms into our communities remains a top priority of this office and we will continue to seek serious sentences for these very serious crimes.”

“Keeping guns from being stolen and used to commit further crimes remains a top priority for ATF,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson.

Between August 29, 2021, and October 4, 2021, Quezada conspired with others to steal firearms from three New Hampshire Federal Firearms Licensees.  During the course of the conspiracy, 43 firearms were stolen from Milford Firearms in Milford, Second Amendment Arms in Windham, and MacPherson Firearms in Brentwood. Multiple stolen firearms were recovered from Quezada’s residence. Videos recovered from Quezada’s phone showed numerous stolen firearms and admissions of his involvement in the conspiracy.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Andover Police Department, the Brentwood Police Department, the Haverhill Police Department, the Lawrence Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, the Salem (NH) Police Department, the Somersworth Police Department, the Saugus Police Department, the Wellesley Police Department, and the Windham Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy prosecuted 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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CONCORD – A former Grantham man and current resident of Holly Springs, North Carolina, was indicted in connection with stealing nearly a quarter million dollars from a charity and gambling away a large amount of the stolen funds at the MGM casino in Springfield, Massachusetts, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Kyle Fisher, 42, was indicted on four counts of wire fraud.  Fisher is scheduled to appear in federal court on a later date.

According to the charging documents, Fisher was the Executive Director of a charity in Lebanon, New Hampshire.  He had full access to the charity’s finances, including its QuickBooks accounting records, PayPal account, and bank account.  Between February 2021 and September 2022, Fisher embezzled more than $230,000 from the charity.  He wrote unauthorized checks to himself and transferred funds from the charity’s PayPal account to his own personal bank account.  Fisher created fake invoices and receipts and altered the charity’s accounting records.  He gambled a large amount of the stolen funds away at the MGM casino in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

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

The 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.

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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CONCORD – A Salem man was sentenced today in federal court for the unlawful possession of machine guns, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Kyle Morris, 23, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 18 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Morris was also ordered to pay a fine of $1000. On January 17, 2023, Morris pleaded guilty to the unlawful possession of machine guns. He was ordered to forfeit to the government the two machine guns seized during the execution of the search warrant at his home.

“The defendant expressed an interest in perpetrating horrific acts of violence against racial and religious minorities,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “Those beliefs coupled with his illegal possession of machine guns pose a danger to our communities and today’s sentence sends a clear message that such conduct will result in not only a felony conviction but in incarceration.”

"Today, Kyle Morris learned his fate for illegally possessing two machine guns, while advocating for a race war and the bombing of mosques and synagogues. Weapons, he collected in furtherance of his desire to commit racially motivated violence,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “I commend the diligent work conducted by our New Hampshire Joint Terrorism Task Force for removing this threat from our community."

Morris kept the machine guns in a locked gun room in his home.  This locked room also contained over 20 other firearms and various Nazi paraphernalia, including a Nazi uniform, two Nazi flags, and a framed photo of Adolf Hitler.

In private correspondence, he advocated for bombing mosques, synagogues, and diversity centers, and for starting a race war.  He expressed an interest in participating in lone wolf attacks in Massachusetts involving shootings in Lawrence, culminating in a plan to drive a truck bomb into the Massachusetts State House.  Morris also wanted to “mag dump a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters, especially the darker ones.” 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anna Z. Krasinski and Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

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

Joshua Olsen, 31, pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of CSAM. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for August 29, 2023.  Olsen was charged by complaint in December 2022 and indicted in January 2023.

Olsen corresponded with an undercover law enforcement officer through various online platforms.  During these chats, Olsen engaged in sexually graphic conversations related to children and sent sexually explicit images of children to the undercover officer.  A subsequent search of Olsen’s cell phone revealed the presence of over 1,600 images of apparent CSAM.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lee 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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CONCORD – A Derry man pleaded guilty today in federal court to unlawfully possessing a destructive device known as a “Molotov cocktail,” U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Zachary Tringali, 28, pleaded guilty to an indictment charging him with receipt and possession of an unregistered destructive device. U.S. District Court Judge Steven McAuliffe scheduled sentencing for August 22, 2023. Tringali was charged on April 11, 2022.

On August 6, 2021, Derry Police Department officers were investigating a reported burglary from Tringali’s commercial storage unit. The officers uncovered 12 assembled Molotov cocktails in the storage unit. A Molotov cocktail is an incendiary weapon consisting of a flammable liquid with a wick in a breakable container. Tringali admitted to knowingly possessing these weapons and failing to register them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by federal law.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Derry Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad E. Hodes is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – Philip A. DeVincent, the Administrative Officer at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, was honored in Washington D.C. with a Director’s Award for his service to the District of New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

“Phil DeVincent was the standard-bearer for office administration during an unprecedented period in our nation,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “His leadership skills and creative thinking ensured that the daily operations of the office continued during the pandemic, so that the people of the District of New Hampshire had the highest level of performance and response from the United States Attorney’s Office.”

Mr. DeVincent received the Superior Performance in Administration award for his exceptional leadership in managing staff and for providing excellent customer service through the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. DeVincent enabled the U.S. Attorney’s Office to continue to function at the highest level during the pandemic. Among other efforts, Mr. DeVincent facilitated remote work to keep federal prosecutors and support staff healthy and developed a system to test out-of-state witnesses for COVID before their court appearances. Mr. DeVincent’s administrative skills served as a model for all federal employees.

The ceremony took place on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in the Great Hall of the U.S. Department of Justice, and was attended by the Attorney General Merrick Garland, Deputy Attorney General Lisa M. Monaco, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young, and other U.S. Attorneys from across the country.

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CONCORD – Dale Stewart, 54, appeared before Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone for an initial appearance in federal court in connection with two pipe bomb explosions in Weare, New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Stewart, 54, was charged with possessing an unregistered firearm, a destructive device, and possessing a destructive device unidentified by a serial number on April 28, 2023. Stewart remains in custody on state charges.

According to the charging documents, Stewart allegedly constructed and detonated two destructive devices in Weare, New Hampshire on April 26, 2023 and April 27, 2023. In response to the explosions, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Stewart’s vehicle and retrieved an additional destructive device, constructed of white PVC pipe, with glued end caps, wrapped in black electrical tape, with a green hobby fuse protruding from one of the end caps. The destructive device found in the vehicle contained more than 4 ounces of an explosive material, consistent with the manufacturing of the two recovered suspected pipe bombs from the two separate detonation scenes in Weare, New Hampshire.

The charges of possessing an unregistered destructive device and possessing a destructive device unidentified by serial number provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $ 10,000. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Weare Police Department; and the Federal Protective Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega 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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CONCORD – A Derry man was indicted for using another person’s identity in his application for a U.S. passport, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Andrew Mahn, 28, was indicted on one count of making a false statement in a passport application, one count of false statements, and one count of aggravated identity theft.  Mahn was arrested on May 2, 2023 and is being held pending a detention hearing on May 4, 2023.

According to the charging documents, on November 15, 2022, Mahn submitted a fraudulent passport application using the name and date of birth of his victim.  Mahn was previously charged with hacking in the Northern District of Illinois, and he was on pretrial release when he applied for the passport.

The charge of making a false statement in a passport application provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison.  The charge of making false statements provides for a sentence of up to 5 years in prison.  The charge of aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory sentence of two years 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. 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 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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CONCORD – A Massachusetts man has been charged in connection with his possession and intent to distribute over two pounds of suspected fentanyl in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Eddy Antonio Perdomo, 29, appeared before Magistrate Judge Daniel J. Lynch for an initial appearance in federal court on May 1, 2023. Perdomo’s detention hearing is scheduled for May 3, 2023.

According to the charging documents, Perdomo arranged to sell a kilogram of fentanyl to a confidential source in Ashland, New Hampshire on April 29, 2023.  The car traveling from Massachusetts, in which Perdomo was a passenger, was stopped in a parking lot in Ashland.  Investigators found suspected fentanyl on the floor of the passenger seat, between Perdomo’s feet.

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

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske 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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CONCORD – A Hudson man was indicted in connection with his attempt to fraudulently obtain over $1 million in CARES Act funds from the United States government, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Matthew Dispensa, 57, was indicted on four counts of bank fraud, two counts of attempted wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering.  Dispensa was arrested this morning and released on conditions.

According to the charging documents, Dispensa owns and operates the Gateway Hills Heath Club in Nashua.  Although he only had one gym, he filed CARES Act loan applications for two different entities, Gateway Hills Health Club, Inc. (“Gateway Hills Inc.”) and Gateway Hills Health & Wellness, LLC (“Gateway Hills LLC”).  Between 2020 and 2022, Dispensa applied for four Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and two Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for Gateway Hills Inc. and Gateway Hills LLC.  He submitted the Gateway Hills Inc. PPP applications to Millyard Bank and the Gateway Hills LLC PPP applications to a separate bank, Primary Bank.  He provided the banks and the Small Business Administration (SBA) false documents, including fabricated tax documents, which inflated his purported companies’ size and payroll.  Because PPP and EIDL loan size was tied to payroll and the number of employees a company had, he was able to apply for and obtain larger loans than he was entitled to.  In total, he applied for $413,850 in PPP loans and $650,000 in EIDL funds.   

Dispensa also misused at least some of the loan proceeds.  For example, he obtained a $146,650 PPP loan for Gateway Hills Inc.  He wired $100,000 of the proceeds to a personal brokerage account to purchase stock, including Tesla stock.  Similarly, Dispensa obtained a $105,600 PPP loan for Gateway Hills LLC.  He transferred the proceeds to his own bank account first before moving $25,000 to a personal brokerage account to purchase 10,000 shares of Ashford Hospitality Trust, a real estate investment trust. 

The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.  The charge of attempted wire fraud provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater.  The charge of money laundering provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison and a fine of twice the amount of the criminally derived property involved in the transaction.  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.

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.

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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CONCORD – A Haverhill, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiring to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Gary Ortiz, Jr., 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for August 10, 2023. Ortiz and one of his co-conspirators, Jaythean Diaz, were indicted on July 11, 2022. Diaz pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled Diaz’s sentencing for July 25, 2023.

On December 8, 2021, Ortiz and his co-conspirators broke into Second Amendment Outdoors in Derry, New Hampshire and stole 12 firearms—11 pistols and one rifle.  Videos recovered from the phone of a co-conspirator show Ortiz holding the stolen firearms, and messages recovered from Ortiz’s phone show searches for Second Amendment Outdoors before the burglary, as well as, searches for news about the burglary afterward.  Additional text messages from Ortiz’s phone show that he was attempting to sell a firearm hours after the burglary.  

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a maximum fine of $250,000 and restitution in an amount to be determined at sentencing. 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 & Explosives (“ATF”) led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department, Methuen Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Derry Police Department, Atkinson Police Department, Plaistow Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Windham Police Department, Hooksett Police Department, and Salem Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy 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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CONCORD – A man has been charged in connection with two pipe bomb explosions in Weare, New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Dale Stewart, 54, was charged with possessing an unregistered firearm, a destructive device, and possessing a destructive device unidentified by a serial number. Stewart will make an initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Stewart is currently in custody on state charges related to the destructive device explosions.

According to the charging documents, Stewart allegedly constructed and detonated two destructive devices in Weare, New Hampshire on April 26, 2023 and April 27, 2023. In response to the explosions, law enforcement obtained a search warrant for Stewart’s vehicle and retrieved an additional destructive device, constructed of white PVC pipe, with glued end caps, wrapped in black electrical tape, with a green hobby fuse protruding from one of the end caps. The destructive device found in the vehicle contained more than 4 ounces of an explosive material, consistent with the manufacturing of the two recovered suspected pipe bombs from the two separate detonation scenes in Weare, New Hampshire.

The charges of possessing an unregistered destructive device and possessing a destructive device unidentified by serial number provide for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $ 10,000. 

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Weare Police Department; and the Federal Protective Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega 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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CONCORD – A federal grand jury has indicted Allan Poller, 23, for calling the office of a member of the United States House of Representatives and threatening to kill the Congressman, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

The indictment includes one count of threatening to assault and murder a federal official, and one count of transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. Poller will appear in federal court for arraignment at a later date.

According to the charging documents, on March 29, 2023 at approximately 12:20 a.m., Poller called the congressional office in Washington D.C. and left a voicemail, stating:

Hi, my name is Allan Poller, A-L-L-A-N P-O-L-L-E-R, phone number []8931. And I just want to let you know, Representative [Name], if you keep on coming for the gays, we’re gonna strike back and I guarantee you, you do not want to fuck with us. We will kill you if that’s what it takes. I will take a bullet to your fucking head if you fuck with my rights anymore. And then if you want to keep going down that path, you know who’s next.

Count one provides for a sentence of up to ten years in prison, and count two provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison. Each count also provides for 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 United States Capitol Police led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene, New Hampshire Police Department and the Springfield, Vermont Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad E. Hodes is prosecuting the case.

 The details contained in the indictment 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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CONCORD – A Keene woman was sentenced in federal court for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Aria DiMezzo, 35, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph LaPlante to 18 months in prison and one year of supervised release. DiMezzo was also ordered to pay a fine of $5,000, and to forfeit 1.93 bitcoin and more than $14,000 in U.S. currency.

“The defendant’s unlicensed bitcoin business allowed scammers of all kinds to obtain their victims’ money anonymously,” said U.S. Attorney Young. “The sentence today sends an important message that those who sell bitcoin, like other money exchangers, must register and comply with the rules meant to ensure that these businesses are not used to facilitate frauds.”

Between June 2020 and January 2021, DiMezzo charged a fee to exchange fiat currency (mostly U.S. dollars) for virtual currency.  DiMezzo recruited customers on websites, including localbitcoins.com. Her customers sent money to her through bank accounts in her name, and in the name of an organization she created, the Reformed Satanic Church.  DiMezzo then sent customers bitcoin or other virtual currency in return.  DiMezzo also worked with Ian Freeman, selling virtual currency to customers that Freeman recruited, and she paid Freeman a percentage of the profits from the sales. A federal jury found Freeman guilty of money laundering, conspiracy to launder money, operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business, and tax evasion, on December 22, 2023. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2023.

DiMezzo sold more than $3 million worth of virtual currency through her business.  DiMezzo did not register her business as a money transmitting business and she did not comply with any of the various regulations imposed on money transmitting businesses.  For example, DiMezzo never filed currency transaction reports for transactions over $10,000 or suspicious activity reports for transactions over $2,000 that may have involved funds derived from illegal activity, among other things.    

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Postal Inspection Service in coordination with the U.S. Treasury Department Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team provided substantial assistance in the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald, John J. Kennedy, and Seth R. Aframe.

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CONCORD – 31 individuals have been arrested as part of a coordinated drug enforcement operation in Coos and Grafton counties, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

The operation, which took place this week, was a coordinated effort by federal, state, and local partners to focus on drug trafficking in Coos and Grafton counties. The enforcement effort targeted the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, which resulted in federal charges against 5 individuals for federal drug offenses and an additional 26 for state drug offenses. Over the course of the investigations, law enforcement seized more than 14 lbs of suspected fentanyl, more than 2 lbs of suspected methamphetamine, 183 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 93 grams of suspected powder cocaine, and $131,397 in U.S. currency.

The enforcement effort brought together 9 law enforcement agencies to target individuals distributing drugs in communities throughout Coos and Grafton counties. The arrests resulted in the removal of individuals allegedly operating in the following New Hampshire communities: Berlin; Colebrook; Gorham; Groveton; Lancaster; Littleton; Stratford; and Whitefield.

The following defendants were arrested on federal charges:

1. John King, age 33, of Berlin, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. King made an initial appearance in federal court in Concord on April 19, 2023 and is detained.
2. Rose Hand, age 39, of Berlin, for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Hand made an initial appearance in federal court in Concord on April 19, 2023 and is temporarily detained.
3. Clarisa C. Haas, 26, of Berlin, for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, fentanyl. Haas made an initial appearance in federal court in Concord on April 20, 2023 and is detained.
4. Kimberly Supernois, 27, of Norton, VT for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. An initial appearance for Supernois has not been scheduled.
5. Alec Supernois, age 28, of Norton, VT for conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. An initial appearance for Supernois has not been scheduled.

The charges provide for a maximum term of 20 years’ imprisonment, a maximum fine of $1,000,000, and a minimum of three years of supervised release.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; the New Hampshire State Police; and the New Hampshire Drug Task Force led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Colebrook Police Department; the Berlin Police Department; the Coos County Sheriff’s Department; the Whitefield Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Lancaster Police Department; and the United States Border Patrol.

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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CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty in federal court to a bank robbery and Hobbs Act robberies in connection with four gas stations in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Hector Rivera Ayala, 34, pleaded guilty to four counts of Hobbs Act robbery and one count of bank robbery. U.S. District Court Judge Elliott scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2023. Rivera Ayala was charged on May 14, 2021.

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 entered the gas station and bank with his face partially obscured and carrying what appeared to be a firearm.  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 charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release, a fine of $250,000 and restitution. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – Kyle Hendrickson, 25, will appear before Magistrate Judge Andrea K. Johnstone for an initial appearance in federal court today, April 18, 2023, at 3:00 p.m. in connection with his alleged threat to the Portsmouth High School on April 12, 2023, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Hendrickson was charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another on April 14, 2023. He was arrested on April 13, 2023 on state charges, and transferred into federal custody this morning.

According to the charging documents, 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 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. A handgun that resembles the one used in the SnapChat video was also recovered near a motel where Hendrickson had stayed on April 12, 2023.  

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, 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.

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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CONCORD – A Philadelphia man was sentenced in federal court for distributing and aiding and abetting the transportation of child sexual abuse material, U.S Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Michael Wilcox, 33, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante to 90 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release. Wilcox was also ordered to pay $8,000 in restitution.  

“Today’s sentence sends a strong message to those who exploit the most vulnerable members of our community that they will be prosecuted, and upon conviction, they will be sentenced to lengthy periods of incarceration,” United States Attorney Jane E. Young said.  “We will work tirelessly to expose the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and bring them to justice.”

Wilcox engaged in sexually explicit online chats with a law enforcement officer on various social media platforms.  During those chats, Wilcox offered to sell child sexual abuse material to the undercover officer in exchange for payment via CashApp.  Wilcox sent various images and videos of child sexual abuse material to the undercover officer as “samples” of material that he had available for sale.  He later sent links to online cloud storage folders that contained hundreds of additional images, many of them depicting child sexual abuse material.

Homeland Security Investigations led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Nashua Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland prosecuted the case.

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

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CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Zachary Janas, 40, pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl and unlawfully possessing with the intent to distribute fentanyl. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph LaPlante scheduled sentencing for July 27, 2023. Janas was charged on September 27, 2021.

On September 21, 2021, the Federal Bureau of Investigation agents arranged to purchase approximately one-half kilogram of fentanyl from Janas at his Manchester residence. On September 24, 2021, federal law enforcement seized an additional one-half kilogram of fentanyl packaged for distribution, approximately $7,000 cash, several firearms, and ammunition.

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

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force led the investigation Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and firearm offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

John Rivera, 24, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession with the intent to distribute quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base, commonly known as “crack” cocaine, and being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph LaPlante scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2023. Rivera was charged on March 11, 2022.

On September 16, 2021, the New Hampshire State Police, working in conjunction with the Manchester Police Department, observed a firearm under Rivera’s driver’s seat during a traffic stop. Upon searching the vehicle, officers seized 1.2 kilograms of fentanyl packaged for distribution, approximately 19.68 grams of crack cocaine, a stolen firearm, a loaded magazine, loose ammunition, drug packaging materials, and a digital scale.  Rivera is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based on a prior felony conviction.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and a 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 Manchester Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – A Maine man has been federally charged in connection with posting a video on SnapChat that threatened the Portsmouth High School on April 12, 2023, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Kyle Hendrickson, 25, was charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. A press release will be issued when an initial appearance in federal court is scheduled.

According to the charging documents, 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.

Hendrickson was arrested yesterday on state charges. A subsequent state search warrant of the vehicle yielded an AR-15 rifle, a shotgun, camouflage body armor, a handgun holster, a red-dot sight, and numerous rounds of ammunition.  Investigators recovered another shotgun inside a residence associated with Hendrickson.  Finally, a handgun that resembles the one used in the SnapChat video was recovered in a motel where Hendrickson had stayed on April 12, 2023.  

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, 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.

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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CONCORD – A Lawrence, Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in federal court to conspiring to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Jaythean Diaz, 19, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for July 25, 2023. Diaz was indicted on July 11, 2022.

On December 8, 2021, the Diaz and his co-conspirators broke into Second Amendment Outdoors in Derry, New Hampshire and stole 12 firearms—11 pistols and one rifle.  Videos recovered from the phone of a co-conspirator show Diaz holding the stolen firearms, and messages recovered in another search show attempts by Diaz to sell at least one of the stolen firearms.  

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 5 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a maximum fine of $250,000 and restitution in an amount to be determined at sentencing. 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 & Explosives led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Lawrence Police Department, Methuen Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Derry Police Department, Atkinson Police Department, Plaistow Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Windham Police Department, Hooksett Police Department, and Salem Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John J. Kennedy 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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CONCORD – An East Rochester man was sentenced in federal court for defrauding a 79-year old family member of almost $84,000, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Craig Corriveau, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott to 12 months in prison. Corriveau was also ordered to pay $83,629.69 in restitution to the victim.  On December 21, 2022, Corriveau pleaded guilty to wire fraud.

“The defendant targeted an elderly family member, which is particularly insidious,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “The victim and their family placed their trust in Corriveau, and he abused that trust over the course of two years.  I thank the Rochester Police Department and FBI for their excellent investigative work in bringing the defendant to justice.  Our office will continue to work to protect the elderly population in our communities.” 

Between March 2019 and late 2021, the defendant stole approximately $84,000 from the victim and left them with almost $20,000 in credit card debt.  He spent more than $31,000 of the stolen funds at a Rochester gun store to purchase ammunition, a knife throwing set, and 32 firearms.  He only stopped stealing after he breached the credit limit on the victim’s credit cards and emptied their bank accounts.  The defendant lied to the Rochester Police Department by claiming the victim had authorized him to spend the stolen money. 

Corriveau used his knowledge of the victim’s personal identifying information to gain access to their bank accounts and credit cards.  The defendant set up paperless bank and credit card statements, so the victim was unable to detect the fraud.

The Rochester Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

More information about the Department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at https://www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Department of Justice provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at https://www.ovc.gov.

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CONCORD – An executive pastor pleaded guilty in federal court to using Journey Baptist Church’s debit and credit cards without authorization, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Gregory Neal of Rochester, age 45, pleaded guilty to a one-count information alleging wire fraud.  U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for July 19, 2023. 

The defendant’s employment entailed overseeing the church’s daily operations, including control over its finances. From January 2017 to March 2020, the defendant made unauthorized withdrawals of the church’s funds to pay off his own gambling debts and made unauthorized purchases with the church’s credit cards for his own personal benefit. These unauthorized transactions amounted to roughly $130,000.

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

The U.S. Secret Service led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Gingrande is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – A Vershire, Vermont man pleaded guilty today in federal court to possessing methamphetamine and cocaine with intent to distribute in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Damien Rousseau, 31, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Landya McCafferty scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2023. Rousseau was charged on August 15, 2022.

On May 11, 2022, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center security personnel determined that Rousseau was in a patient’s room while in possession of a bag that contained a small quantity of narcotics and a drug ledger. The Lebanon Police Department responded and observed that Rousseau’s BMW vehicle, in the medical center’s parking-lot, had methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A drug detecting canine also alerted the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. The defendant was arrested and released on bail.  The following day, May 12, 2022, the Lebanon Police Department observed Rousseau trespassing in their secure-impound lot. After finding him hidden in the BMW, officers arrested him and executed a search warrant on the vehicle. Law Enforcement seized approximately 436 grams of methamphetamine, 98.66 grams of cocaine, 10.5 grams of fentanyl, three loaded firearms, assorted loose ammunition, $2,179 in U.S currency, and 20 assorted silver and gold-colored coins.   

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, 3 years of supervised release, a 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 Drug Trafficking Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lebanon Police Department, and the Vermont State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis is prosecuting the case.  

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CONCORD – A Northwood man was sentenced today in federal court for attempting to fraudulently obtain over $6 million in CARES Act funds from the United States government, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Joshua Leavitt, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 28 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release.  Leavitt was also ordered to pay $873,475.50 in restitution. On September 27, 2022, Leavitt plead guilty to bank fraud and wire fraud. His co-defendant, Pierre Rogers, was sentenced on February 3, 2023, to 41 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud.

“Leavitt’s conduct in this case was egregious,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “Leavitt and Rogers attempted to steal a combined $6.2 million dollars, which ultimately denied legitimate businesses nearly a million dollars in emergency pandemic relief funds.  I thank our law enforcement partners for their outstanding work in unraveling the largest CARES Act fraud case in the District of New Hampshire to date.” 

Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help businesses and individuals adversely affected by the COVID pandemic.  The CARES Act created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which offered low-interest loans to employers.  Private lenders could participate in the PPP program.  If borrowers used the PPP loans for payroll and other approved expenses as intended, they could apply for loan forgiveness.  The CARES Act also expanded the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.  As with PPP loans, EIDL loans were intended for payroll and other business expenses, such as rent and mortgage.

Leavitt applied for 35 PPP and EIDL loans for seven different companies, including Dark Matter Associates, a company that was allegedly dedicated to “COVID-19 Disaster Relief Loan Acquisition and Management.” Other companies Leavitt submitted fraudulent applications for included Demeter Group and the wine company Puro Trader, also known as Yahyn.  Leavitt attempted to obtain a total of $6,019,725.50, of which he received $873,475.50. 

Leavitt and his co-defendant, Pierre Rogers, inflated the companies’ revenues and number of employees on the applications.  Leavitt also generated false supporting documents, including tax filings purportedly filed with the IRS.  For example, in a PPP application for Puro Trader, Leavitt submitted a fake tax return claiming the company’s payroll was over $1 million in 2020, but no such return was ever filed with the IRS.  Similarly, in a PPP application for a company called Monticello Transnational, Leavitt submitted a fake tax return claiming the company paid employees almost $340,000 in the fourth quarter of 2020.  The company’s payroll was only $9,000 during that period. 

The U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration and the U.S. Secret Service led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen prosecuted the case.

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

Jabreel A. Amir, 41, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 51 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On December 14, 2022, Amir plead guilty to the charges.

“Today, the defendant was held accountable for trafficking cocaine to New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “Our federal and local law enforcement partners successfully prevented a significant quantity of drugs from impacting our communities, and we will continue to work together to prosecute individuals who contribute to this serious problem.”

On May 9, 2022, Amir attempted to deliver cocaine in New Hampshire to an individual cooperating with the government. Law enforcement officers surveilled Amir as he attempted to conduct the drug sale. He traveled from Waterbury, Connecticut to Concord, New Hampshire, where he was arrested. Law enforcement seized more than 2 kilograms of cocaine.

The United States Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by New Hampshire State Police Narcotics Intelligence Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis prosecuted the case.

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CONCORD – A jury convicted a Methuen, Massachusetts man yesterday in federal court in Concord for a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl in New Hampshire, announces Jane E. Young.

Ramon Jaquez-Diaz, age 52, was convicted following a two-day jury trial for his role as a drug-runner in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl operating out of Lawrence, Massachusetts.  U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for July 24, 2023 at 10 a.m. Jaquez-Diaz was indicted for this charge on March 8, 2021.

Jaquez-Diaz worked with others to transport fentanyl from New York to Massachusetts, and ultimately into New Hampshire.  The fentanyl was internationally sourced.  Twelve people were charged for this conspiracy.     

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

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Seth R. Aframe, Heather A. Cherniske, and John Kennedy 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 – A Manchester man, Reda Shehabeldin, 26, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for July 12, 2023.  Mr. Shehabeldin was indicted on January 10, 2023.

On July 15, 2022, Shehabeldin was identified—in a video posted by another individual on SnapChat—holding a Glock, model 30 Gen 4 .45 caliber subcompact pistol.  At the time, he was a convicted felon.  Hillsborough County Superior Court convicted Shehabeldin in January 2022 for reckless conduct, a class B felony offense under the state laws of New Hampshire.

The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 15 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $250,000.00.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (“ATF”) and the Manchester Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys John Kennedy and Geoffrey Ward are prosecuting the case.  

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

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CONCORD – A Lawrence man was sentenced today in federal court in Concord for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Daniel Adorno, Jr., 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 41 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. Adorno pleaded guilty to the charge on January 11, 2022.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute drug dealers,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. “In this case, the Salem Police Department successfully stopped the flow of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine from endangering their community.”

On November 13, 2019, a Salem Police Officer encountered Adorno during a routine motor vehicle stop that resulted in the arrest of the driver and impoundment of the vehicle.  During the pre-tow inventory search of the vehicle, officers located Adorno’s backpack containing cocaine, cocaine base, and methamphetamine. Adorno admitted that the drugs in the backpack belonged to him and that he distributed drugs. 

On May 15, 2020, the same Salem Police Officer recognized Adorno as he was driving away from a hotel. Adorno had a suspended license and had an active warrant for the November 2019 encounter at the time. The officer stopped Adorno to arrest him for the outstanding warrant.  Adorno admitted that he possessed drugs and had more in his hotel room.  The officer located 9 baggies of fentanyl from Adorno’s pockets.  Officers attempted to recover the drugs from Adorno’s hotel room, but they learned that the defendant’s sister had removed and concealed the drugs in a bush next to the hotel room.  Officers recovered approximately 174.89 grams of fentanyl during their search of the area.

United States Attorney Jane E. Young made the announcement today. This case was prosecuted by former Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cam T. Le

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CONCORD – A man attending Keene State College has been charged for calling the office of a member of the United States House of Representatives and threatening to kill the Congressman.

Allan Poller, 23, was charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure the person of another. Poller made an initial appearance in federal court in Concord on April 3, 2023 at 3:00 p.m.

According to the charging documents, on March 29, 2023 at approximately 12:20 a.m., Poller called the congressional office in Washington DC and left a voicemail, stating:

"Hi, my name is Allan Poller, A-L-L-A-N P-O-L-L-E-R, phone number []8931. And I just want to let you know, Representative [Name], if you keep on coming for the gays, we’re gonna strike back and I guarantee you, you do not want to fuck with us. We will kill you if that’s what it takes. I will take a bullet to your fucking head if you fuck with my rights anymore. And then if you want to keep going down that path, you know who’s next."

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.

United States Attorney Jane E. Young; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and the United States Capitol Police made the announcement today. Valuable assistance was provided by the Keene, New Hampshire Police Department and the Springfield, Vermont Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarad E. Hodes 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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CONCORD – United States Attorney Jane E. Young announced the appointments of Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth R. Aframe to serve as the Criminal Division Chief and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis to serve as the Deputy Criminal Division Chief.

“I am delighted to announce Seth Aframe as the Criminal Division Chief and Jennifer Davis as the Deputy Criminal Chief,” said U.S. Attorney Young.  “Together, Seth and Jen have diligently served the office for more than half a century.  Each bring strong legal, analytical, and mentorship skills.  Additionally, they have demonstrated an unparalleled devotion to this outstanding office.  I am confident that under their leadership the Criminal Division will continue to thrive.” 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aframe has served the U.S. Department of Justice since 2007 in the District of New Hampshire’s criminal and civil divisions, most recently serving as the Deputy Criminal Division Chief.  Over the course of his esteemed career, Mr. Aframe prosecuted a variety of federal violations, including fraud, drug, firearm, and child exploitation crimes. He also litigated over 100 appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Mr. Aframe has served as the District’s Elections Coordinator and Civil Rights Coordinator since 2018.

Mr. Aframe is a respected member of his community. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of New Hampshire Law School, and previously served as a School Board Member in Hopkinton. Mr. Aframe is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center. 

Ms. Davis has nearly 30 years of experience serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Hampshire. Most recently, she has conducted complex long-term narcotics investigations as the District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and National Opioid Coordinator. Since 2022, she has served as a mentor for her colleagues as the District’s Senior Litigation Counsel.

Ms. Davis has prosecuted and tried cases related to health care and security fraud, firearm and narcotics, immigration, and white-collar crimes. Earlier in her career, Ms. 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.

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