Illegal gets 2 1/2 years for trafficking drugs at Portsmouth housing complex

CONCORD - A Dominican man was sentenced on Thursday for trafficking drugs at a public housing development in Portsmouth.

Maikol Jordan Saldivar-Diaz, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Samantha Elliott to 30 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. In November 2024, Saldivar-Diaz pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of controlled substances.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack said the sentence sends a strong message to drug traffickers who put Granite Staters at risk, whether their citizens or illegals.

"Saldivar-Diaz is an illegal immigrant who chose to distribute drugs outside of a public housing development," said McCormack. "The families at the housing development deserve better than to be endangered by those dealing and buying dangerous narcotics nearby. We will continue to support our partners to ensure public neighborhoods in the Granite State are safeguarded from drug activity and violence."

According to court documents, Portsmouth Police Department was notified of drug activity at a public housing development in Portsmouth. Investigators were subsequently able to identify Saldivar-Diaz as the source of this drug activity. On three occasions in June and July Saldivar-Diaz sold controlled substances to a confidential informant, including quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.

Portsmouth Police led the investigation with the DEA providing valuable assistance.