Twenty-seven-year-old Nicholas Messina pleaded guilty in a New Hampshire federal court to drug trafficking and firearms charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray said Wednesday.
The Haverhill man’s admission comes after he was arrested at a Nashua, N.H. hotel with fentanyl, cocaine and thousands of dollars in cash and a loaded firearm, police said. During an interview after his arrest, Messina said he intended to distribute the drugs.
“Drugs and guns are a potentially lethal combination. Traffickers who use firearms to further their distribution activities present a heightened concern for law enforcement agencies,” Attorney Murray said after Messina’s plea. “In order to protect the public from harm, we will aggressively prosecute those who engage in this hazardous activity.”
He will be sentenced for the federal charges in September, Murray’s office said.
Closer to home, Messina is no stranger to Haverhill Police. Over the last three years, he has been arrested at least four times on charges including drug possession, shoplifting, disorderly conduct and driving with a suspended license.