Two Massachusetts men, Francis Miguel Rodriguez and Roberto Ramon-Avalo, were indicted on March 18 for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in New Hampshire, according to a statement released by U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan on Mar. 20.
The indictment follows an investigation that began in early 2024, when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) started looking into the sale of large quantities of methamphetamine in the Rochester area. The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address drug trafficking and related crimes in the region.
According to court documents and statements made in court, a narcotics-detecting K-9 alerted officers to controlled substances during a June 2024 traffic stop involving Rodriguez’s vehicle. Law enforcement later discovered significant amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl hidden inside magnetic boxes attached to the car. Investigators used cooperating sources who arranged purchases with Rodriguez; each time, Avalo traveled from Massachusetts to New Hampshire to deliver the drugs at agreed prices.
In December 2025, authorities obtained arrest warrants for both men as well as a search warrant for a suspected drug house in Boston linked to their activities. Inside the residence, DEA agents found packaging materials and about five pounds of methamphetamine along with other controlled substances. After Avalo’s arrest, more drugs were found concealed within his car’s dashboard compartment—including over 200 grams of methamphetamine and more than 700 grams of fentanyl.
Both defendants face charges that carry potential sentences of up to 20 years’ imprisonment, at least three years of supervised release, and fines up to $1 million. Sentencing will be determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations; both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The DEA investigated this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew T. Hunter. The prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a nationwide initiative aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protecting communities from violent crime through coordinated efforts from Department of Justice programs.
