Loudon man sentenced to 50 months for methamphetamine trafficking
CONCORD, N.H. – DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Mark T. Moore, 38, of Loudon, N.H., was sentenced in federal court to 50 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in late 2016, the DEA and the Postal Inspection Service investigated numerous parcels mailed from Las Vegas to New Hampshire suspected of containing methamphetamine. Law enforcement agents also investigated parcels of money mailed from New Hampshire to Las Vegas, and money transfers from New Hampshire to Las Vegas. Eventually, investigators identified Edward Espejo as the individual in Las Vegas who was shipping methamphetamine to buyers in New Hampshire in return for money transfers or packages of cash mailed to him via the U.S. Postal Service.
Co-defendant Michael Bean, along with his girlfriend and co-defendant Katie-Jo Waters, joined the conspiracy in or before January 2018. Defendant Mark Moore, who already knew Espejo, joined the conspiracy soon afterwards. Within the conspiracy, Moore handled the communications (mostly by text) to and from Espejo in Las Vegas and coordinated the shipments of drugs from Nevada and the wiring of payments from New Hampshire. Waters received mailed packages containing methamphetamine at her residence, Bean and Waters distributed methamphetamine to buyers in New Hampshire, and Bean and Waters wired the proceeds of drug sales to Espejo in Las Vegas to purchase additional drugs. Bean and Waters also distributed to Moore a portion of the methamphetamine they received from Espejo.
On Jan. 16, 2018, a package was mailed from Las Vegas. The package was scheduled to be delivered on Jan. 17, 2018. The package was addressed to Waters at an apartment on Pembroke Street in Pembroke. Postal Inspectors obtained and executed a federal search warrant for the package. The package contained 18.989 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine.
On April 9, 2018, a package was mailed from Las Vegas. The package was scheduled to be delivered on April 10, 2018. The package was addressed to co-defendant Waters at the same Pembroke Street location. This package was delivered to the Pembroke residence. On April 11, 2018, Waters was stopped by the New Hampshire State Police driving a car registered to her. Inside the car was a black bag containing four baggies containing a total of 23.011 grams of 100 percent pure methamphetamine.
Wal-Mart and MoneyGram records reflect that either Bean or Waters made at least 16 separate money transfers to three persons in Las Vegas between Jan. 10, 2018, and April 29, 2018, sending a total of at least $28,550 to purchase methamphetamine.
On May 2, 2018, Postal Inspectors intercepted another package from Espejo in Las Vegas. The package was addressed to another individual at the same Pembroke Street residence previously used by co-defendant Waters. Postal Inspectors obtained a federal search warrant for the package and seized what was later determined to be 441.8 grams (approximately one pound) of pure methamphetamine.
Moore previously pleaded guilty on Jan. 17, 2019.
Espejo previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
Bean was sentenced to 120 months in prison and Waters was sentenced to 72 months in prison.
“This sentence reflects DEA’s strong commitment to bring to justice those that distribute methamphetamine,” said Special Agent in Charge Boyle. “DEA and its local, state and federal law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to keep this highly addictive drug off the streets of New Hampshire.”
“Highly pure methamphetamine is appearing in New Hampshire with greater frequency,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute and incarcerate those who are responsible for distributing this very dangerous drug in the Granite State. Drug traffickers who choose to sell methamphetamine in New Hampshire should understand that their conduct will result in substantial prison sentences.”
“The sentence imposed today on Mark Moore demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and our law enforcement partners, to the safety and health of the American public,” said Inspector in Charge Joseph W. Cronin of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service’s Boston Division. “Moore’s actions allowed this highly addictive drug to have a place in our community. We will continue to investigate and take action against those who take part in this type of behavior.”
This matter was investigated by the DEA and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
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