A Laconia man, Steven Ridgway, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. The court decision, delivered by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante, comes after Ridgway pleaded guilty in January 2025 to two counts of drug distribution and one count of illegal firearm possession.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack commented on the case, stating, “Individuals like the defendant - who choose to traffic illegal drugs and arm themselves despite their prior convictions – demonstrate a brazen disregard for the laws and the safety of our communities. This case underscores the dangerous and persistent threat posed by the combination of methamphetamine and firearms.”
James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, remarked, "Steven Ridgway was a one-stop shop for methamphetamine, profiting from other people’s pain and addiction. With today’s sentence, this previously convicted felon has been held accountable for his blatant disregard for the law.”
According to the investigation, Ridgway sold methamphetamine and fentanyl over a six-month period to confidential witnesses. Additionally, he sold two firearms despite being prohibited from possessing them due to a prior felony conviction.
The investigation was spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force, along with support from the Laconia Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske.
This conviction is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at combating illegal immigration, dismantling cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and reducing violent crime through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).