Gilford resident gets 5 years in prison on federal drug charges

CONCORD — A federal judge sentenced a local resident on Monday to five years in prison for their role in dispersing fentanyl and methamphetamine, crimes to which they pleaded guilty in February.

Spiros Athanasopoulos, 46, was handed the sentence by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbaro, who ordered him to serve 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.

Athanasopoulos’ case dates to June 2021, according to a press release from the Department of Justice, when he fled from police in New Hampton while riding on a stolen motorcycle. During the chase, Athanasopoulos threw a jar, which police recovered and determined contained illicit substances. His home was searched, and Athanasopoulos was found to be in possession of more than 100 grams of fentanyl, and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, in addition to cash, several firearms and body armor.

“This sentence reflects the serious danger posed by those who traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine, especially when they also attempt to flee law enforcement and endanger the public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack in the press release. “Our office remains committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting our communities from the devastating impact of these drugs.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s a large-scale drug trafficking organization, or an individual like Spiros Athanasopoulos who was distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine out of his home in Gilford, New Hampshire, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will do everything we can to put those who have furthered the scourge of drugs in our neighborhoods out of business,” said Ted E. Docks, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, according to the release. “Investigations like this prove the essential value of strong law enforcement partnerships as we work together to make our communities safer.”

“Drugs like fentanyl and methamphetamine are causing tremendous damage to our communities,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Stephen Belleau, New England Field Division, as quoted in the media release. “Those who distribute these drugs are endangering the safety of the citizens of the Granite State. DEA’s top priority is combatting the drug epidemic by working with our local, state and federal partners to bring to justice anyone who distributes these poisons.”

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, with assistance provided by Gilford and New Hampton police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Hunter prosecuted the case.