A Dominican man, Joel Castillo-Soto, pleaded guilty on March 19 in federal court to charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and illegal reentry after deportation, according to U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samantha Elliot scheduled sentencing for June 25.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address both drug trafficking and immigration violations in the region.
Court documents show that starting in early 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating an individual selling large quantities of methamphetamine in Rochester, New Hampshire. The investigation involved a cooperating source who communicated with Ariel Castillo-Solano, who was using a false identity. Between October 2024 and January 2025, undercover officers negotiated several sales totaling more than five pounds of methamphetamine from Castillo-Solano. Later, Castillo-Solano arranged another sale involving additional drugs valued at $69,000. On January 24, Castillo-Soto delivered the drugs to an undercover officer in Seabrook before being arrested along with Castillo-Solano.
Castillo-Solano previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on March 12.
The charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $1 million. The charge of illegal reentry after conviction for a qualifying felony also carries up to 20 years’ incarceration and fines up to $250,000. Sentencing will be determined by federal guidelines and statutes.
The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case with Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter prosecuting. The case is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to combat illegal immigration and dismantle criminal organizations through coordinated efforts from various Department of Justice initiatives.
