CONCORD – A Nashua man who was one of nine alleged drug-traffickers arrested in March 2019 on possession, distribution and conspiracy charges has pleaded guilty to related charges in U.S.District Court in Concord.

Terray Morrison, 31, entered guilty pleas Tuesday to one count each of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, according to U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray.

Morrison is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2021, two years and four days after he and the other eight suspects were taken into custody following a year-long investigation, in which Nashua police played a significant role.

The majority of those arrested were from Nashua, while two were from Manchester and one from Fitchburg, Massachusetts.

Morrison was considered “one of the leaders” of the trafficking organization, according to court documents and testimony.

Members were accused of distributing crack cocaine and other drugs to customers in the Nashua area, according to Murray.

“During an investigation that included the use of wiretaps, Morrison took orders from customers and sent other members of the conspiracy to make drug deliveries on his behalf,” Murray said. “Morrison and his co-conspirators operated two stash houses in Nashua and were responsible for the distribution of substantial quantities of crack cocaine.”

In all, 11 individuals were charged with participating in the conspiracy, Murray said. Nine have pleaded guilty, six of whom have been sentenced while three await sentencing.

The other two, Arnetta Harris and Melvin Stanford, 42, of Manchester, are scheduled to go to trial in January.

Murray noted that several of those sentenced received “substantial” prison time. For example, Melvin Nooks Jr., 30, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, is serving a 10-year sentence; George Cruz, 32, of Nashua, is serving a term of 63 months; Mallory Nooks, age and address unknown, faces 60 months, while Donald Johnson, 36, of Nashua, is serving 42 months.

Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division, said the FBI’s New Hampshire Safe Streets Task Force “will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent criminal enterprises like this one from inflicting more pain and damage to our community.

“For years, Terray Morrison was a leader in a crack cocaine distribution ring that plagued the city of Nashua, endangering the health and safety of those around him, without any fear of repercussion,” Bonavolonta said. “Now, he has finally come to the realization that what he did was wrong.”

Murray, meanwhile, said he “commends the FBI agents and Nashua police officers who worked so well together to end this harmful criminal conspiracy.

“Drug traffickers should know that law enforcement agencies at all levels of government are working together to bring them before the courts to face justice.”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

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