CONCORD – Today in federal court, 30-year-old Katie Girgus of Manchester entered a guilty plea for her involvement in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine. This development marks Girgus as the second of 22 defendants in the case to plead guilty, announced U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.
Girgus admitted guilt to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, including fentanyl and cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott has set the April 30th sentencing. The indictment against Girgus was originally filed on April 26, 2023.
Details from the plea agreement and court statements revealed that Girgus was involved in selling approximately 50 grams of fentanyl and 3.5 grams of crack cocaine from June to November 2022. She operated as part of a network where customers would call a “dispatch” line to order narcotics. A dispatcher would then connect Girgus with the customers to finalize the drug deals, primarily in the Manchester area. Transactions typically occurred in her car, where she would meet customers at designated locations.
The conviction carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a potential fine of up to $1,000,000. Sentencing will be determined by the federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration spearheaded the investigation leading to this plea, with significant support from the Manchester Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Jarad Hodes are prosecuting the case