A Hooksett man has been sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine, according to Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack.
Erik Pena, 28, received a 90-month sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliott, followed by three years of supervised release. Pena pleaded guilty in February 2025 to two counts of distribution of a controlled substance.
“The distribution of methamphetamine devastates communities, fuels addiction, and endangers public safety. Drug trafficking will not be tolerated in New Hampshire. We will vigorously support law enforcement and prosecute offenders to stop the spread of drugs in the Granite State,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack.
“Methamphetamine traffickers must be held accountable for the pain, suffering, and destruction inflicted by their crimes,” said Kimberly Milka, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Make no mistake, the FBI’s Major Offender Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue dangerous drug traffickers like Erik Pena in order to make New Hampshire a safe place for everyone who lives and works here.”
Court documents reveal that between 2023 and 2024, law enforcement purchased over two pounds of methamphetamine from Pena. Authorities identified and searched his stash house where they found significant quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, four firearms, ammunition, body armor, and additional fentanyl pills at his residence.
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police and the Hooksett Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Cherniske prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at eliminating illegal immigration-related crime and transnational criminal organizations while protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators through coordinated efforts from Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
