Twelve people have pleaded guilty in federal court for their roles in a drug trafficking operation that distributed fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine across New Hampshire and Maine, according to an announcement from United States Attorney Erin Creegan.
The defendants used text messages and social media messaging apps to coordinate drug sales. Law enforcement began investigating the group in October 2023 after receiving information about a drug trafficking organization operating out of Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts. Controlled purchases and searches conducted between fall 2023 and spring 2024 led officers to seize about two and a half kilograms of fentanyl, 250 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of cocaine, and several handguns.
Further investigation uncovered evidence that the organization trafficked an additional 20 kilograms of fentanyl, one kilogram of methamphetamine, and 200 grams of cocaine. Authorities also found that six customers attempted to trade firearms—including shotguns, rifles, and handguns—for drugs.
Those who pleaded guilty include Jacob D. King (Milton, NH), Riley J. Paletta (Hudson, NH), Amanda E. Gray aka Amanda E. Camera aka Amanda E. Douglass (Fairfield, ME), Benjamin M. Fields (Laconia, NH), John N. Titus (Farmington, NH), Christian F. Gerlach (Manchester, NH), Moses J. Losuk (Portland, ME), Timothy E. Boston aka Timothy Earl Boston II (Nashua, NH), Robert A. Arrington (Bangor, ME), Robert W. Whiteside Jr. (Exeter, NH), William L. Wheelock (Windham, ME), and Alexander L. Wilson (Belfast, ME).
Sentencing dates are scheduled between December 2025 and January 2026 for most defendants; two have already been sentenced: Timothy E. Boston received 30 months in federal prison with two years supervised release; William L. Wheelock was sentenced to 50 months in prison with three years supervised release.
For King, Gray, and Fields—who faced charges involving more than 40 grams of fentanyl—the statute allows for sentences ranging from five to forty years in prison as well as fines up to $5 million; other defendants face up to twenty years imprisonment with fines up to $1 million.
The Drug Enforcement Administration led the investigation with assistance from multiple local police departments including Hudson Police Department; Bedford Police Department; Nashua Police Department; Manchester Police Department; Laconia Police Department; New Hampshire State Police; Strafford County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar Vega is prosecuting the case.
“This effort is part of Operation Take Back America,” the press release stated,“a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.” The statement continued: “Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).”
