Laconia Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Drug Trafficking and Firearms Offenses

            CONCORD - Timothy Raxter, 53, of Laconia, was sentenced in federal court to serve 57 months in prison for methamphetamine trafficking and firearm offenses, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.

             According to court documents and statements made in court, on January 23, 2017, Laconia Police executed a search warrant on Raxter’s vehicle, seizing a .40 caliber pistol and approximately 10 grams of “ice” methamphetamine.  As a previously convicted felon, Raxter is prohibited from possessing firearms.      

            Raxter pleaded guilty on November 7, 2017, to possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

            “Drugs and guns are a potentially lethal combination,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “The U.S. Attorney’s Office works closely with our law enforcement partners to target drug traffickers, particularly those who use firearms or violence to further their unlawful activities. Those who commit these crimes will be prosecuted aggressively in order to protect the safety of our community.”

          "As a convicted felon, Mr. Raxter should have known better than to possess a firearm and engage in drug trafficking.  It's a dangerous combination, and the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify, detect, and disrupt those who try to poison our neighborhoods and threaten them with violence," said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division.

          This matter was investigated by the police departments of Gilford and Laconia in conjunction with the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force.  The Task Force is comprised of the FBI, the New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Probation and Parole, and the police departments of Hudson, Manchester, and Nashua.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.

           This case was supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF).  The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.  

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