A New Hampshire man has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for his role in a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy. Cote Colby, 29, from Derry, N.H., was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Angel Kelley and will also serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Colby was indicted in April 2023 alongside three other defendants.
The investigation into the drug trafficking organization began in September 2022. It focused on the distribution of fentanyl, fentanyl pills, cocaine base, and methamphetamine across Massachusetts and New Hampshire's Merrimack Valley areas. Authorities identified Colby as a key distributor within the organization, responsible for significant transactions involving narcotics. Throughout the investigation, Colby sold drugs to cooperating witnesses during controlled purchases. He is estimated to have distributed approximately 422 grams of pure methamphetamine and 26 grams of fentanyl.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley announced the sentencing along with Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Boston Field Division. The case received assistance from several law enforcement agencies including Homeland Security Investigations and local police departments.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and violent crime through community collaboration and strategic enforcement priorities. More information about PSN can be found at Justice.gov/PSN.
Additionally, this operation falls under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative which focuses on dismantling high-level criminal organizations through a collaborative approach involving multiple agencies working together.