Concord, NH – Attorney General John M. Formella and Drug Task Force Commander Ellen Arcieri announce that Jacob Benson, age 23, of Unity, New Hampshire has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of sale of a controlled drug, possession of a controlled drug with the intent to distribute, and felonious use of firearms.

The charges against Mr. Benson follow an eight-month undercover investigation into illicit drug trafficking activities conducted by the New Hampshire Attorney General's Drug Task Force with the assistance of the New Hampshire State Police, and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA").

On June 24, 2022, Mr. Benson was charged with four counts of sale of a controlled drug – fentanyl, two counts of sale of a controlled drug – crack cocaine, and felonious use of firearms. Also on June 24, 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Mr. Benson's residence in Unity. On June 27, 2022, an additional search warrant was executed on a related vehicle. As a result of these searches, Mr. Benson was also charged with possession of a controlled drug – cocaine, with intent to distribute on July 7, 2022.

Mr. Benson has been arraigned on the charge of possession of a controlled drug – cocaine, with intent to distribute in the Sullivan County Superior Court on July 8, 2022 and was ordered held on preventative detention. The remaining charges from the June 24, 2022, arrest are scheduled for arraignment on July 27, 2022.

Other assisting agencies in this investigation were the Sullivan County Sheriff's Department, the New London Police Department K-9 unit, the Newport Police Department, and the Sunapee Police Department.

The charges and allegations are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.