Manchester Man Pleads Guilty To Drug Trafficking And Firearms Charges

          CONCORD, N.H. - Kaisle J. Raikes, 25, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking and firearms charges, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley of the District of New Hampshire announced today.

          According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning on or about May 16, 2017 through May 31, 2017, on three separate occasions, Raikes sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant working with the Manchester Police Department. Raikes had firearms displayed during two of the drug transactions.  At the time of his arrest, Raikes had drugs on his person as well as a loaded firearm in his sock.  The Manchester Police Department subsequently executed a search warrant at Raikes’ apartment and seized two loaded firearms, ammunition, and quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, and Suboxone.

          Raikes pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime,

          Raikes is scheduled to be sentenced on February 1, 2018.

          “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to stop drug trafficking and violent crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.   “Guns and drugs are a potentially lethal combination that can threaten the safety of our communities.  This case is an example of our ongoing effort to target those who commit gun-related crimes.”

          This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M. Walsh.

          The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes. 

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