CONCORD – Christopher Yule, 30, and Jacob Brady, 30, of Manchester, pleaded guilty in federal court to drug trafficking charges and related charges, United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today. Yule pleaded guilty two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. Brady pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on April 29, 2020, Manchester police detectives received information that a female would be traveling from Manchester to Lawrence, Massachusetts to obtain a significant amount of drugs for redistribution in New Hampshire. Surveillance officers observed her drive to Lawrence and park in an area known as a distribution “hot spot.” A vehicle registered to Yule parked close by and extinguished its lights. Within a minute, the cars departed. Surveillance units followed both vehicles.
When Yule’s vehicle entered Manchester, it was stopped by the police for a traffic violation and suspicion of drug activity. Brady was the driver of the vehicle. Yule and Brady both engaged in furtive movements within the vehicle as officers approached. Both individuals were instructed to step out of the vehicle. Brady explained that he and Yule traveled to Lawrence so Yule could meet with his source and purchase drugs. He further disclosed the drugs were in the glove compartment.
During the encounter, an officer observed through the window a tied-off glassine baggie protruding from a side compartment area. It contained a powder that appeared to be fentanyl. Yule consented to a search of the vehicle and officers located over 78 grams of fentanyl and over six grams of cocaine base.
On March 27, 2021, Hooksett police officers responded to a call reporting a male “passed out” in a rental van in a hotel parking lot known as a hot spot for drug activity in Hooksett. The caller stated a needle and firearm were visible in the vehicle. Officers found Yule slumped over in the driver’s seat with a needle and tourniquet visible next to him. Officers also saw a firearm in the open driver’s door compartment. After securing the firearm, they woke Yule.
Officers learned that Yule was a convicted felon and he was placed under arrest. During a search incident to arrest, officers located syringes in his pockets, $3,170 in his wallet and two small bags of suspected drugs, which Yule identified as “crack.”
On March 30, 2021, pursuant to a search warrant, officers searched the van and found over 58 grams of methamphetamine and over five grams of fentanyl. They also located holsters, loaded 9mm magazines, and other firearm accessories.
Yule and Brady are both scheduled to be sentenced on April 15, 2022.
“Drug trafficking continues to endanger the health and welfare of the residents of Manchester and other communities in New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Farley. “Armed drug dealers are an even greater danger because their illegal behavior increases the risk of violence. By working with the Manchester Police Department to prosecute drug dealers like Yule and Brady, we are improving public safety in Manchester and throughout the Granite State.”
This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Hooksett Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.
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