United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CONCORD, N.H. - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Division and Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Rigoberto Ramirez-Aldava, 40, formerly of Manchester, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Statements in court documents and earlier court proceedings showed in June 2016, the Drug Enforcement (DEA) received information that Ramirez-Aldava was in possession of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine.  On June 21, 2016, an undercover DEA Task Force Officer met with Ramirez-Aldava at a location in Manchester, where Ramirez-Aldava provided the undercover officer with a sample of approximately 29 grams of methamphetamine.  On June 29, 2016, the undercover officer met with Ramirez-Aldava at the same location in Manchester and purchased approximately 359 grams of methamphetamine for $8,000.  On July 11, 2016, Ramirez- Aldava was arrested as he travelled to a pre-arranged location in Manchester where he intended to sell the undercover officer approximately ten pounds of methamphetamine for $85,000. Approximately 4.5 kilograms were recovered from Ramirez-Aldava’s vehicle at the time of his arrest.

As part of the investigation, DEA agents searched the defendant’s business, El Patron Sports Bar and Grill in Manchester, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 1.7 kilograms of methamphetamine.  A second search at Ramirez-Aldava’s Manchester apartment resulted in the seizure of $6,000 of the currency used in the June 29 drug sale.

Ramirez-Aldava pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charge on March 16, 2017.  Upon his release from federal prison, Ramirez-Aldava was ordered to serve two years of supervised release.  However, Ramirez-Aldava is likely to be deported from the United States after completing his federal sentence.

“This sentence reflects DEA’s strong commitment to bring to justice those that distribute methamphetamine,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson.  “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.  This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative law enforcement efforts in the Granite State and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to aggressively pursue anyone who traffics this poison.”

“Even amidst the opioid crisis, other deadly drugs continue to threaten our state,” 
Acting U.S. Attorney Farley said.  “The highly pure methamphetamine that was involved in this case could have presented a serious risk to our community if quick-acting law enforcement officers had not identified Ramirez-Aldava and seized his substantial drug supply.  I commend the DEA and our local law enforcement partners for their excellent work in keeping this very large amount of methamphetamine off the streets.”

The investigation was conducted by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Bedford Resident Office and the Manchester and Nashua New Hampshire Police Departments.