Manchester Man Pleads Guilty in Connection with Operating a Counterfeit Pill Press Scheme

CONCORD – A Manchester man pleaded guilty today in federal court in connection with manufacturing and trafficking counterfeit pharmaceutical pills, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

Jerry Summers, 45, pleaded guilty to one count of manufacturing controlled substances, one count of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, two counts of distributing controlled substances, and two counts of trafficking in a drug and knowingly using a counterfeit mark on or in connection with such drug. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2025.

According to the charging documents, on July 1, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant of Summer’s Manchester office, rented under the name of “Summertime Drywall and Maintenance LLC.” During the search, law enforcement located a pill press that was covered in powdered residue and wrapped in soundproofing material, and large amounts of colored tablets. Drug testing revealed the presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine in the various pills as well as in the residue found on and around the pill press.

On two prior occasions, Summers sold pills to a confidential informant.  On March 21, 2024, Summers sold a quantity of blue pills that were marked as being OxyContin but later tested positive for fentanyl.  On April 10, 2024, Summer sold a quantity of blue pills that were marked as being OxyContin but later tested positive for fentanyl as well as a quantity of orange pills that were marked as being Adderall but later tested positive for methamphetamine.

On the manufacturing and possession with intent to distribute charges the charging statutes provide a sentence of up to life in prison, a term of supervised release of at least five years, and a fine of up to $10,000,000.  On the distribution charges the charging statute provides a sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a term of supervised release of at least four years, and a fine of up to $5,000,000.  On the charge of trafficking in a drug and knowingly using a counterfeit mark on or in connection with such drug, the charging statute provides a sentence of up to 20 years, a term of supervised release of not more than three years and a fine of up to $5,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S Attorney Geoffrey Ward is prosecuting the case.

###