Eric Spofford, former CEO of Granite Recovery Centers, is facing a four-count indictment for allegedly orchestrating a plan to seek vengeance against employees at New Hampshire Public Radio in the spring of 2022. Courtesy photo

Eric Spofford, former CEO of Granite Recovery Centers, was able to avoid prosecution for three years after he allegedly orchestrated an aggressive retaliation campaign against New Hampshire Public Radio.

His luck ran out on May 30 when federal law enforcement officials took him into custody after his private jet landed at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.

Spofford, 40, of Salem and Miami, Fla., had been at the helm of Granite Recovery Centers since 2008. In the years that followed, he was praised by then-Gov. Chris Sununu and then-Vice President Mike Pence as a prominent leader in New Hampshire’s fight against the opioid epidemic.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in March 2022, NHPR reporter Lauren Chooljian published a story detailing allegations of sexual misconduct against Spofford.

After learning of Chooljian’s story, Spofford quickly became enraged and allegedly paid his friend, Nashua resident Eric Labarge, $20,000 to seek revenge against Chooljian and Daniel Barrick, NHPR’s news director. To assist him, Labarge recruited Tucker Cockerline of Salem, Michael Waselchuck of Seabrook and Keenan Saniatan of Nashua.

Spofford also filed a 396-page defamation lawsuit against Chooljian, Barrick and four other NHPR reporters. However, the case was dismissed by Rockingham Superior Court Judge Daniel St. Hilaire, who ruled that Spofford failed to prove actual malice.

On five occasions, in April and May 2022, Labarge and his accomplices vandalized Chooljian’s home, her parents’ home and Barrick’s home. The four perpetrators also spray painted the word “c*nt” on Chooljian’s home and hurled bricks through the windows.

The torment finally ended on the evening of May 20, 2022 when Waselchuck threw a brick through one of Barrick’s windows and spray painted “Just the beginning” on the front of the house.

However, Waselchuck’s statement proved to be incorrect as he, Labarge, Cockerline and Saniatan were all indicted in September 2023.

In July 2024, Labarge pleaded guilty to a five-count indictment and was later sentenced to 46 months in prison. Following his sentence, Labarge will be on supervised release for three years. He was also ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $34,139 in restitution to the victims.

Cockerline was sentenced to 27 months in prison while Waselchuck was ordered to serve 21 months. Like Labarge, their sentences will be followed by three years of supervised release.

Saniatan was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.

Spofford has been indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and using a facility of interstate commerce, one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce and two counts of stalking through interstate travel.

He was arraigned in federal court in Boston on June 2.

If convicted, Spofford could face up to 20 years in prison, up to 12 years of supervised release and up to $1 million in fines.