⏱ 2 min read
On March 15, 2026, at approximately 10:40 p.m., two masked men, later identified as Richard Conner, 64, of Greenfield, MA, and James Ferguson, 66, of Worcester, MA, entered the T-Bird Mini Mart on Brattleboro Road in Hinsdale, New Hampshire. The duo, one of whom allegedly brandished a firearm, stole merchandise, including cigarettes, from the store before fleeing in a stolen U-Haul box truck. The motive behind the robbery is still unclear, but the trail of stolen cigarettes would ultimately lead to their downfall.
The investigation began when stolen cigarettes spilled from the fleeing U-Haul, traveling south on Interstate 91 into Vermont. The stolen truck was later discovered abandoned and on fire in Orange, Massachusetts. On June 12, 2026, the ATF, along with partner law enforcement agencies, executed federal search warrants at locations in Massachusetts associated with the defendants, finding cigarettes cartons with State of New Hampshire tax stamps.
Some of the cartons were stored in cardboard boxes with stickers indicating they originated in or were shipped to Hinsdale, New Hampshire. The visual evidence, along with the discovery of the stolen goods, was enough to link Conner and Ferguson to the crime. They were arrested in Massachusetts without incident and now face federal conspiracy charges.
Conner and Ferguson are each charged with one count of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery, also known as a Hobbs Act conspiracy, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951. James Ferguson is scheduled to make his initial appearance in District of New Hampshire federal court on June 22, 2026, while Richard Conner’s initial appearance is pending.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Hampshire
- Location: NH
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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