A Manchester resident has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for his involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.
Joseph Coffey, 32, received a 60-month sentence and three years of supervised release from U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante on September 9, 2025. Coffey had previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine on February 25, 2025. His co-defendant, Zachary Austin, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.
“The defendant and his co-conspirator worked to introduce a significant amount of methamphetamine into the Manchester area,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan. “Methamphetamine has inflicted tremendous damage on our communities over the past decade, and law enforcement in the Granite State will continue to relentlessly work to dismantle large-scale drug distributors.”
Special Agent in Charge Jarod Forget of the New England Field Division commented on the case: “DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes poisons like methamphetamine in order to profit and destroy lives. Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take drugs off the streets, lives are saved. This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts and our strong partnership with U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Court documents show that Coffey and Austin ran their operation out of a shared apartment in Manchester between July and September 2024. During this period, they sold methamphetamine to law enforcement officers five times. Subsequent searches uncovered additional quantities of methamphetamine in their apartment and vehicle; authorities seized approximately 3.66 pounds in total.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation into this case, which was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen.
