Nine Individuals Indicted for Participating in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

            Concord – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that nine individuals have been charged with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy.  The indictments are the culmination of a year-long investigation by the FBI in coordination with federal, state, and local authorities in New Hampshire.

            On March 6, 2019, the following individuals were charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, cocaine and crack cocaine:

• George Cruz, 30, Nashua, New Hampshire;
• Lawrence Fortenberry, 65, Nashua, New Hampshire;
• William Greenleaf, 42, Nashua, New Hampshire;
• Donald Johnson, 34, Nashua, New Hampshire;
• Isaiah Kinard, 29, Manchester, New Hampshire;
• Marvin Morrison, 36, Nashua, New Hampshire;
• Terray Morrison, 30, Nashua, New Hampshire;
• Melvin Nooks, Jr., 28, Fitchburg, Massachusetts; and
• Melvin Stanford, 40, Manchester, New Hampshire

            As a result of a coordinated operation involving federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, all of the above-listed individuals have been arrested.

            If convicted, Morrison, Stanford, Cruz, and Nooks Jr. face a mandatory minimum of ten years in prison and a maximum sentence of life, as well as a fine of up to $10 million. The other defendants face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million.

            “Drug traffickers endanger the health and safety of our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “The arrest and prosecution of drug traffickers is a top priority for this office.  We are working closely with the FBI and all of our law enforcement partners to stop the distribution of drugs in order to protect the citizens of the Granite State.”

            “As alleged, these individuals distributed crack cocaine in New Hampshire for several years and disrupting drug trafficking organizations like this one is a critical part of our mission. The FBI will continue to focus our energy, and expertise to help our law enforcement partners stem the tide of drugs flooding our streets,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division.

            The indictments are allegations. The defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

           This investigation was the product of an investigation 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.

            The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the FBI New Hampshire Safe Streets Gang Task Force; the Nashua Police Department; the New Hampshire State Police; the Manchester Police Department; New Hampshire Probation and Parole; DEA; Massachusetts State Police Department; Portsmouth Police Department and the Federal Protective Service.  The United States Marshals Service also assisted in the investigation.

            The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky, and Anna Krasinski.

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