New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking Charges

BOSTON – Member of a nationwide drug trafficking ring pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court in Boston. Throughout the investigation over 160 pounds of pure methamphetamine, as well as an AK-47, a Glock with no serial number, two loaded Smith & Wesson handguns, and over 4,200 rounds of ammunition were seized. An illegal marijuana grow operation with hundreds of marijuana plants was also dismantled. On April 2, 2024, Reshat Alkayisi also pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, 2024.

Andre Watson, 47, of Nashua, N.H., pleaded guilty to one count of the second superseding indictment charging him with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton scheduled sentencing for July 16, 2024.

Watson was charged in a superseding indictment in September 2021 with conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. The superseding indictment also charged 10 other defendants with controlled substance offenses, firearm offenses, and money laundering offenses.  

In approximately October 2020, investigators received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Boston area. In late 2020, investigators identified Reshat Alkayisi as a large-scale methamphetamine trafficker, who distributed multi-pound quantities to customers throughout the New England area. Watson was identified as one of Alkayisi’s methamphetamine customers. In May 2021, Alkayisi distributed approximately four pounds (or 1.8 kilograms) of methamphetamine to Watson.  In July 2021, investigators arrested Watson and seized multiple weapons from his vehicle, as well as a loaded firearm from his residence.  

Watson is the eighth defendant to plead guilty. All remaining defendants are scheduled to plead guilty. 

The charges of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine provides for a minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $10 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy; Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Stephen Belleau, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction; Norfolk County Sherriff’s Office; and Concord, Hudson, Peabody, Reading, Watertown and Waltham Police Departments. Assistance was also provided by the Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Maine State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alathea Porter, Katherine Ferguson and James Arnold of the Criminal Division are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The details contained in the charging document are allegations. The remaining defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the court of law.