Fitchburg Man Sentenced For Attempting To Take Delivery Of Over 500 Pounds Of Marijuana

          CONCORD, N.H. – Acting United States Attorney Donald Feith announced today that Todd Burke, 52, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, was sentenced today to 28 months in prison by the United States District Court.  The court’s sentence was less than the otherwise applicable guideline of 46 months based on the court’s findings that Burke did not profit from his criminal activity, that he was unlikely to recidivate, and that he lacked a criminal history.

          Burke pleaded guilty on March 28, 2015, to attempted possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

          According to documents filed in federal court, federal agents located a pallet of boxes that contained approximately 263 kilograms (approximately 579 pounds) of marijuana in Vermont in September of 2014.  Agents learned that the marijuana was scheduled to be delivered to a business in Peterborough, New Hampshire.  Burke was arrested on September 24, 2014, after he traveled to Peterborough and attempted to take possession of the marijuana.  Agents later recovered additional quantities of marijuana and hashish at Burke’s residence in Fitchburg.

          In addition to the 28 months of incarceration, Burke was sentenced to serve three years of supervised release after completion of his prison sentence.  During the period of supervised release, Burke’s behavior will be monitored by the United States Probation and Pretrial Services Office.  Burke also agreed to forfeit his interest in a piece of real estate in Fitchburg to the United States.

          This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fitchburg Police Department and the Peterborough Police Department.  It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John J. Farley.