Vermont Man Pleads Guilty To Drug And Gun Charges

          CONCORD, N.H. – Robert Orth, 30, of South Ryegate, Vermont, pleaded guilty today in the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to one count of possessing more than 100 grams of heroin with the intent to distribute it, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking activities, and one count of possessing a firearm as a previously convicted felon, announced Acting United States Attorney Donald Feith.

          On May 29, 2014, during a motor vehicle stop in Nashua, New Hampshire, Nashua police officers recovered more than 200 grams of heroin and a loaded handgun in a jacket belonging to Orth, already a convicted felon.  During a subsequent interview, Orth admitted that the heroin and the handgun belonged to him.

          “Our office is committed to investigate and prosecute those individuals who traffic in heroin,” stated Acting United States Attorney Donald Feith. “Individuals who choose to profit from trafficking heroin can expect to serve significant sentences in federal prison upon conviction.  The ten-year sentence in this case insures that the public will be protected from Mr. Orth’s drug trafficking for the next decade.

          Orth is scheduled for sentencing on February 16, 2016.  Orth is facing a maximum statutory sentence of life in prison and criminal fines of up to $5,000,000.  Under the terms of a plea agreement resolving the case, which the court reserved accepting until the sentencing date, Orth will serve a sentence of ten years in federal prison.

          This prosecution arose from an investigation conducted by several officers and detectives of the Nashua, New Hampshire Police Department, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, New Hampshire.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nick Abramson and Seth Aframe.