Laconia Man Pleads Guilty to Methamphetamine Trafficking

            CONCORD, N.H. - James Cunningham, 61, of Laconia, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in federal court to four counts of distributing methamphetamine, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, Cunningham, a member of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, sold quantities of methamphetamine on four separate occasions in 2013 to an individual who was cooperating with the FBI.   Three of the drug transactions took place in Manchester and one occurred in Merrimack.

            Cunningham is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, 2018.

            “Drug trafficking crimes cause tremendous damage to our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “In addition to the terrible problems of overdoses and addiction, drug trafficking often is associated with violence and can jeopardize the safety of the citizens living in the Granite State.  We continue to work each day with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute drug traffickers so that we can decrease violence and improve the quality of life in New Hampshire.”

               "We're pleased to see Mr. Cunningham, a member of one of the most violent and notorious gangs in the United States, finally accepting responsibility for trafficking illegal narcotics," said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Boston Division. “The FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force is fully committed to eradicating gang violence, and the flow of illegal drugs that comes with it. Together, with our law enforcement partners, we're going to take back our communities from violent offenders who are inhibiting the safety and growth of our neighborhoods."

            This matter was investigated by the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force, which is comprised of the FBI, the New Hampshire State Police, New Hampshire Probation and Parole, and the Police Departments of Hudson, Manchester, and Nashua. Assistance was provided by the Laconia police department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.     

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