Manchester woman pleads guilty to role in drug trafficking ring
Jan. 22—A Manchester woman pleaded guilty in federal court Monday for her role in an organized drug trafficking ring, federal prosecutors said.
Katie Girgus, 30, is the second of 22 defendants charged in the case to plead guilty, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young said Monday.
Girgus pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, specifically fentanyl and cocaine. U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott scheduled sentencing for April 30. Girgus was indicted on April 26, 2023.
According to the plea agreement and statements made in court, Girgus sold a total of approximately 50 grams of fentanyl and 3.5 grams of crack cocaine between June and November of 2022.
Customers would call a phone number for a "dispatch" line used to purchase narcotics and speak to a dispatcher, who would put Girgus in touch with the customer to complete the drug sale, prosecutors said.
Girgus would then arrange to meet with the customer, primarily in Manchester, to sell them drugs.
"She would often meet the customer at an agreed-upon address, pick the customer up in her car, and complete the drug transaction inside the car," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.
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.
When 22 people were charged last year in connection with the alleged organized drug trafficking ring, Manchester Police Chief Allen Aldenberg called it the largest drug takedown in the department's history.
The investigation was conducted in coordination with the Boston Police Department, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI. At least three Manchester police officers were assigned to the case. The investigation included surveillance and more than 50 undercover purchases.
Aldenberg called the arrests a "major blow to drug trafficking in the city of Manchester, the region and beyond."
