A Laconia man received a federal prison sentence for methamphetamine distribution and illegal firearm possession, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack. Steven Ridgeway, aged 51, was sentenced to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante. Ridgeway pleaded guilty in January 2025 to charges of distributing controlled substances and firearm possession as a prohibited person.
Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack commented on the case, stating: “Individuals like the defendant - who choose to traffic illegal drugs and arm themselves despite their prior convictions – demonstrate a brazen disregard for the laws and the safety of our communities. This case underscores the dangerous and persistent threat posed by the combination of methamphetamine and firearms.”
James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, remarked: "Steven Ridgway was a one-stop shop for methamphetamine, profiting from other people’s pain and addiction. With today’s sentence, this previously convicted felon has been held accountable for his blatant disregard for the law. Getting illegal drugs off the street and illegal firearms out of criminals’ hands, like we did in this case, immediately makes our communities safer.”
Over six months, Ridgeway sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to confidential witnesses and also sold two firearms, despite being a felon prohibited from doing so. The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force, with assistance from the Laconia Police Department, the New Hampshire State Police, and the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, which aims to combat illegal immigration and eliminate cartels and transnational criminal organizations, while also protecting communities from violent crime perpetrators. The operation utilizes resources from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood initiatives.
