Ian Chase Sentenced to 5 Years for Meth Lab, Gun Crimes

In a decisive federal crackdown, 28-year-old Ian Chase of Littleton, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 60 months in prison for manufacturing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The sentence, handed down in Concord, marks the end of a nearly six-year legal process that began with a raid on a rural property where Chase was actively cooking the highly addictive stimulant.

Court records reveal that on April 8, 2016, DEA agents stormed Chase’s former residence in Bethlehem, where they discovered an operational meth lab inside a shed. Inside, Chase was found in possession of a .25 caliber pistol—loaded and within immediate reach—while 77.98 grams of finished methamphetamine sat nearby. A sweeping search uncovered five additional firearms and a cache of volatile chemicals used in the drug’s production, all of which were seized by federal authorities.

Chase was formally arrested on July 21, 2016, and later pleaded guilty on December 1, 2016, to charges of unlawful methamphetamine manufacturing and firearms possession tied to drug trafficking. As part of his plea agreement, he forfeited all firearms to the United States government—a key stipulation in cases where weapons are used to protect or facilitate illicit drug operations.

U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray made it clear the prosecution sent a message: “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to target individuals who are manufacturing illegal drugs in New Hampshire.” Murray emphasized that while addiction requires treatment, those who profit from producing poison will face relentless prosecution.

DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson echoed the sentiment, stating, “This sentence reflects DEA’s strong commitment to bring to justice those that manufacture methamphetamine.” He praised the collaborative takedown, calling it a textbook example of interagency coordination between federal, state, and local forces determined to dismantle drug operations at their source.

The investigation was led by the DEA, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and local police from Littleton and Bethlehem. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis prosecuted the case, sealing a conviction that underscores the federal government’s zero-tolerance stance on backyard meth labs and the deadly risks they pose to communities.

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