Two Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution

        Concord, N.H.— Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Celestino Nieves Vasquez, 42, was sentenced to serve 57 months in prison and Jose Hernandez Corchado, 40, was sentenced to serve 16 months in prison for their roles in distributing cocaine in Manchester, New Hampshire.

          According to statements made in court and court documents, on several occasions in June and July 2016, investigators used a confidential source to purchase cocaine from Nieves Vasquez at his Manchester residence. On at least one of these occasions, Corchado was present and assisted Nieves Vasquez in the collection of money owed to complete a drug transaction. Both defendants are former residents of Manchester.

          Nieves Vasquez previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and cocaine distribution charges and Corchado previously pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge.

          “This case demonstrates the commitment of federal law enforcement officers to identifying and prosecuting those who are distributing drugs in Manchester,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. “I commend that teamwork of the law enforcement officers who participated in this investigation. We will continue to work together to combat drug trafficking in Manchester and throughout our state.”

          “Mr. Vasquez and Mr. Corchado profited from addictions that destroy lives and tear apart families,” said Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw. “This case is another example of FBI’s ongoing commitment to rid neighborhoods in New Hampshire of drug trafficking enterprises.”

          "DEA is committed to investigating and dismantling drug trafficking organizations who are responsible for distributing cocaine to the citizens of New Hampshire," said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “This investigation demonstrates the strength of collaborative local, state and federal law enforcement efforts in New Hampshire."

          This matter was the product of an investigation of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Gang Task Force. 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. Other and state and local authorities involved in the investigation included the Manchester Police Department, the Hudson Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, the Nashua Police Department, and the New Hampshire Department of Corrections Probation and Parole. Investigators also received assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles L. Rombeau.

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