CONCORD, NH — Lamar Carter, a 32-year-old Vermont resident, has pleaded guilty in federal court in Concord to a charge of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance, specifically cocaine base or crack cocaine. U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announced the plea, with U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduling sentencing for March 29, 2024.
Carter was indicted on August 29, 2022, and was identified as a leader of a drug distribution organization that sourced powder cocaine from New Jersey. The organization converted the powder cocaine into crack cocaine and distributed it in and around Keene, New Hampshire. The operation involved several employees who managed hand-to-hand drug transactions with customers, using a local resident’s home and multiple hotel rooms for their activities.
During the investigation, law enforcement seized 364 grams of cocaine base and 2 handguns. The sentencing, guided by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes, could result in a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a fine up to $1,000,000. The sentence will be determined by the federal district court judge.