Manchester Man Pleads Guilty To Role In Drug Trafficking Organization
Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 11:45 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
CONCORD, NH.- On Thursday, a 50-year-old Manchester, New Hampshire, man will be facing up to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to his role in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of crack cocaine and fentanyl throughout the Manchester, New Hampshire, area.
On Thursday, March 27, 2025, Luis Maldonado appeared in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substances, Crack Cocaine, and Fentanyl.
Judge Elliott And Schedules Sentencing For July 8, 2025
Following entering his guilty plea on Thursday, Judge Elliot accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for July 8, 2025. At that time, Maldonado faces up to 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $1 million fine. When sentenced, a U.S. District Court Judge will determine the term of imprisonment based on the seriousness of the offense and Maldonado’s prior criminal history.
According to Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack, Maldonado was initially charged with conspiracy on April 26, 2023, along with 20 other defendants in the drug trafficking conspiracy. As of Thursday, 14 defendants have pleaded guilty to their roles in the conspiracy.
According To Charging Documents
According to Maldonado’s plea agreement and statements made in District Court, Maldonado played an active role in a Massachusetts-based drug trafficking organization that distributed large quantities of crack cocaine and fentanyl in Manchester, New Hampshire, and elsewhere. As of 2022, Maldonado’s role in the organization was selling crack cocaine and other illicit narcotics for the drug trafficking organization.
During the investigation, on May 19, 2022, law enforcement investigators conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Maldonado was a passenger. A subsequent court-authorized search uncovered that Maldonado had $12,994 in U.S. currency and a digital scale in his backpack, and the vehicle contained a secret compartment utilized to conceal narcotics. A search of Maldonado’s cellular phone uncovered numerous text messages between Maldonado and others arranging narcotics transactions.
   Acting U.S. Attorney McCormack commended the investigative work of the Manchester Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration for the investigation, arrest, and Maldonado’s guilty plea on Thursday.
