CONCORD – Rigoberto Ramirez Aldava, 40, of 345 Putnam St., Apartment #1, Manchester, appeared July 12 before U.S. Magistrate Daniel Lynch and was arraigned on a criminal complaint charging him with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
According to documents that filed in U.S. District Court and statements in the court proceeding, Ramirez Aldava, a citizen of Mexico, operated El Patron Sports Bar and Grill LLC, located at 253 Wilson St., Manchester.
As part of the investigation, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) received information that Ramirez Aldava was in possession of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine. On June 21, 2016, an undercover DEA Task Force Officer met with Ramirez Aldava at a location in Manchester, where Ramirez Aldava provided the undercover officer with a sample of approximately 34 grams of methamphetamine. On June 29, 2016, the undercover officer met with Ramirez Aldava at the same location in Manchester and purchased approximately 372 grams of methamphetamine for $8,000. On July 11, 2016, Ramirez Aldava was arrested as he traveled to a pre-arranged location in Manchester where he intended to sell the undercover officer approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine for $85,000. Approximately 5.13 kilograms were recovered from Ramirez Aldava’s vehicle at the time of his arrest (approximately 11.3 pounds).
A search of El Patron Sports Bar and Grill resulted in the seizure of approximately 2.03 kilograms of methamphetamine. A second search at Ramiez Aldava’s Putnam Street apartment resulted in the seizure of $6,000 of the serialized DEA currency utilized in the June 29 drug sale, for a total of about 16 kilograms of meth.
DEA reports that in New Hampshire, one gram of methamphetamine typically sells for between $150 to $200 dollars, and in the Northeast, larger quantities of the drug can sell for as much as $50,000 to $60,000 per kilogram.
“Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant that damages the central nervous system and can cause paranoia often associated with violent behavior,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “This record-setting seizure of methamphetamine in New Hampshire demonstrates DEA’s commitment to disrupt and dismantle Mexican drug trafficking organizations who have become the primary manufacturers and distributors of methamphetamine to cities throughout the United States. DEA and its local, state and federal partners are committed to bringing to justice those that distribute this lethal drug.”
Magistrate Judge Lynch ordered Ramirez Aldava detained pending trial. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.
