CONCORD, NH – Ira Weeks, 40, of Greenfield, New Hampshire, is headed to federal prison for 85 months after being convicted of participating in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. The sentence, handed down today, reflects the severity of the opioid crisis gripping the state and the federal government’s commitment to dismantling drug supply chains.
According to court documents, Weeks conspired with others to distribute and possess fentanyl with intent to distribute. The operation centered around sourcing the deadly drug from Methuen, Massachusetts. In December 2017, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) intercepted communications between Weeks and his wife, Shelley Weeks, revealing orders for fentanyl placed with their Massachusetts supplier. DEA surveillance subsequently confirmed at least four meetings between Weeks and the supplier in Methuen.
Law enforcement intervened, conducting motor vehicle stops on Weeks’ vehicle following these meetings. These stops yielded a significant haul: over 175 grams of fentanyl. The DEA and the New Hampshire State Police worked in tandem, building a case that ultimately led to Weeks’s guilty plea on May 27, 2020. Shelley Weeks was also indicted in the conspiracy and pleaded guilty on March 26, 2020, currently awaiting her own sentencing.
“Interstate fentanyl traffickers make a deadly drug available for sale in our state,” stated United States Attorney Scott W. Murray. “The results have been disastrous. The substantial prison sentence imposed in this case should serve as a warning to those who would choose to involve themselves in this dangerous business.” The case underscores the relentless flow of illicit narcotics across state lines and the devastating impact on communities.
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle echoed this sentiment, stating, “Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison.” He emphasized the broader impact of drug trafficking, adding, “Illegal drug distribution ravages the very foundations of our families and communities so every time we take fentanyl off the streets, lives are saved.”
This investigation was a collaborative effort, led by the DEA with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis prosecuted the case. The operation was conducted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), a multi-agency initiative aimed at dismantling major drug trafficking organizations. OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat the most serious drug threats facing the nation.
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Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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