Craig Pearson, a 42-year-old resident of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan.
According to the plea agreement, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) conducted two controlled purchase operations involving Pearson in late June and early July 2022. These operations resulted in the seizure of more than 600 grams of methamphetamine. On July 7, 2022, DEA agents arrested Pearson and searched a hotel room he had rented. During the search, they found an additional 400 grams of methamphetamine, 200 grams of fentanyl, and a .22 caliber semi-automatic rifle.
The statutes under which Pearson was charged carry significant penalties. For the drug trafficking offense, he faces up to 20 years in federal prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1 million. The firearm violation carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to life in federal prison, which must be served consecutively to any sentence for the drug offense. It also includes up to five years of supervised release and a maximum fine of $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for May 12, 2026 before U.S. District Court Chief Judge Samanta D. Elliott.
The DEA led the investigation into this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cesar A. Vega is prosecuting.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America, an initiative by the Department of Justice that coordinates resources from its Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) programs to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and address violent crime across communities.
