A Manchester man has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Concord for his involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. Acting U.S. Attorney John J. McCormack announced the development.
Riley Thibodeau, 26, admitted guilt to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha D. Elliot has scheduled his sentencing for June 12, 2025. Co-defendant Ronny Ramos, who also pleaded guilty, was sentenced by Judge Elliott on December 9, 2024, to 120 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
Court documents and statements revealed that Thibodeau was involved in a plan to traffic approximately 50 pounds of methamphetamine from Massachusetts to New Hampshire. Between March and October 2023, Ramos received five orders of methamphetamine from Thibodeau through an intermediary. Payments were made similarly through this intermediary. Each order consisted of 10-12 pounds at about $20,000 per order, delivered to Thibodeau in New Hampshire. On October 31, 2023, law enforcement arrested Ramos in Methuen, Massachusetts, seizing 10 pounds of methamphetamine intended for Thibodeau.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1 million. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Manchester Police Department, Salem Police Department, and Methuen Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting the case.