Nashua Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Trafficking

           CONCORD – Melvin Stanford, 43, of Nashua, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing crack cocaine, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

           According to court documents and statements made in court, Stanford distributed crack cocaine and other drugs to various customers in the Nashua area.

           Stanford is scheduled to be sentenced on August 3, 2021. 

           In addition to Stanford, three defendants in this case have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.  The following defendants have already been sentenced to federal prison: Donald Johnson received 42 months; Marvin Morrison received 15 months; Terray Morrison received 120 months; Melvin Nooks received 120 months; and Mallory Nooks received 60 months.  One other defendant is awaiting trial.

           “This prosecution is another example of our ongoing effort to fight back against drug trafficking in New Hampshire,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “We will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug dealers who are damaging our community by selling dangerous drugs.” 

           “Putting Melvin Stanford and his fellow drug traffickers out of business is a win for the citizens of Nashua. The FBI and our partners will not cede our cities to drug pushers who have no regard for the harm and violence they bring into our neighborhoods,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

            This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the New Hampshire State Police, Nashua Police Department, Manchester Police Department, Dover Police Department and Portsmouth Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Georgiana L. MacDonald and Anna Krasinski.

            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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