Laconia Man Sentenced to 78 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine and Illegally Possessing a Firearm

CONCORD – A Laconia man was sentenced today in federal court for distributing methamphetamine and possessing a firearm as a prohibited person, Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack announces.

Steven Ridgeway, age 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 78 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release.  In January 2025, Ridgway pleaded guilty to two counts of distribution of controlled substances and one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

“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,” said Acting United States Attorney Jay McCormack.

"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,” said James Crowley, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “Getting illegal drugs off the street and illegal firearms out of criminals’ hands, like we did in this case, immediately makes our communities safer.”

The defendant sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to confidential witnesses over a six-month period. In addition to selling drugs, Ridgeway also sold two firearms. Ridgeway was prohibited from possessing a firearm by way of a prior felony conviction. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. 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, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

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