Merrimack Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Charges

CONCORD, NH – Kyle Mehlhorn, 28, of Merrimack, New Hampshire, is headed to federal prison for a decade after a judge handed down a 120-month sentence for a cascade of drug and gun violations, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today. The sentence is a clear message: move poison and pack heat in the Granite State, and you *will* face serious time.

The bust began on October 27, 2020, when Manchester police spotted a vehicle sporting illegally attached plates. A traffic stop revealed more than just a paperwork issue. Driver Kyle Mehlhorn had a suspended license and a rap sheet, landing him under arrest. A subsequent search, authorized by a warrant, turned up a disturbing haul: over 209 grams of methamphetamine, 28 grams of fentanyl, drug packaging materials, a staggering $13,800 in cash, and *two* loaded firearms. Mehlhorn, a convicted felon, was already legally barred from possessing any guns.

But the trouble didn’t stop there. In January 2021, Mehlhorn was apprehended in Boston, this time armed with a 9mm handgun and a backpack overflowing with another 196 grams of methamphetamine and 187 grams of fentanyl. A search of the vehicle revealed yet another .22 caliber handgun. This wasn’t a one-time slip-up; this was a full-scale operation, and Mehlhorn was clearly committed to the trade.

Mehlhorn pleaded guilty on August 6, 2021, facing the music for his crimes. As part of the sentence, he’ll forfeit the firearms and cash seized during both the October 2020 and January 2021 busts. The feds aren’t messing around – they’re taking his tools and his profits.

“Armed drug traffickers like Kyle Mehlhorn pose a serious threat to the community by carrying deadly weapons and selling dangerous substances,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “As a convicted felon, Mehlhorn should not have had a gun. Instead, he possessed multiple guns while peddling significant quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine. This lengthy sentence shows that the law enforcement community is working hard to protect the Granite State from violent crime and to hold armed criminals accountable for their actions.”

The investigation was a multi-agency effort, involving the FBI, ATF, New Hampshire State Police, Manchester, Concord, Gorham, and Boston Police Departments. The FBI’s New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force, along with local departments, are sending a message to other criminals: we’re watching, we’re collaborating, and we *will* come for you. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Charles Rombeau and Robert Rabuck prosecuted the case, ensuring Mehlhorn paid the price for flooding the streets with poison and firepower.