Manchester Man Sentenced to Eight Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Firearm Offenses

            CONCORD, N.H. - Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today that Kaisle J. Raikes, 25, of Manchester, was sentenced to serve 96 months in prison for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on three separate occasions in May of 2017, Raikes sold methamphetamine to an individual who was cooperating with the Manchester Police Department.  Raikes displayed firearms during two of the drug transactions.  At the time of his arrest, Raikes possessed cocaine and methamphetamine.  He also had a loaded firearm in his sock.  After the police found the firearm on Raikes, he stated, “I’m no fool, you have to be ready. I would never turn it on one of you guys though.”  Members of the Manchester Police Department also executed a search warrant at the defendant’s apartment and seized two loaded firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine, cocaine, Suboxone, a digital scale, and baggies.  

            Raikes previously pleaded guilty on October 26, 2017, to three counts of distribution of a controlled substance, one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  He will be on supervised release for five years after serving his prison sentence.  The firearms have been forfeited to the United States.

            “Drugs and guns are a potentially deadly combination that can threaten the safety of our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “When drug dealers arm themselves, there is a great risk that they will commit acts of violence.  Through the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target those who use guns to commit crimes so that we can protect our citizens from violent crime.  Those who choose to use firearms to commit crimes in New Hampshire should expect to spend many years behind bars.”

            This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M. Walsh prosecuted the case.

            The case is part of ATF’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which is a federally-funded program intended to reduce gun violence through law enforcement training, public education, and aggressive law enforcement efforts to investigate and prosecute gun-related crimes.

###