Two Manchester Residents Plead Guilty to Conspiracy to Manufacture Methamphetamine

CONCORD – A Manchester man and woman pleaded guilty in federal court to charges pertaining to the manufacturing of methamphetamine, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Charles Winchell, age 41, and Catherine Quinn, age 42, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine with a child under the age of 18 present and the possession of equipment, chemicals, products and material to manufacture methamphetamine.  U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled Winchell’s sentencing for September 16, 2024 and Quinn’s sentencing for September 30, 2024.

Quinn and Winchell purchased pseudoephedrine, an over-the-counter medication and the primary ingredient used for the manufacturing of methamphetamine, dozens of times in 2023. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at their Manchester residence and found pseudoephedrine and other ingredients used to manufacture methamphetamine present, as well as approximately 6 grams of methamphetamine. At the time, twelve individuals lived in the home; three of them under the age of five.

The crime of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least 3 years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. For committing this offense with a child under the age of 18 present, the statute provides for a consecutive sentence up to 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. For possessing the equipment, chemicals, products, and materials to manufacture methamphetamine, the statute provides a sentence of no greater than 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and no more than five years of supervised release. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Manchester Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske is prosecuting the case.

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