By Tiffany Williams –
MANCHESTER, N.H. — A wrong-way driver was stopped before anyone was hurt, New Hampshire joined a multistate settlement targeting alleged generic drug price-fixing, and two federal drug trafficking cases ended with lengthy prison sentences as state and federal authorities announced a series of public safety and criminal justice developments.
The cases range from a dangerous early morning interstate incident to multimillion-dollar antitrust litigation and major fentanyl prosecutions in federal court.
Wrong-Way Driver Arrested on Interstate
A Nashua man was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly driving the wrong way on Interstate 293 and the F.E. Everett Turnpike.
According to New Hampshire State Police, Troopers assigned to the Troop B barracks received a report at 3:42 a.m. of a vehicle traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 293 near Exit 5 in Manchester.
Within two minutes of the initial report, Sgt. Brendan Tallon located the vehicle, a white Nissan Altima, traveling head-on toward his cruiser on the northbound side of the F.E. Everett Turnpike.
State Police said Sgt. Tallon used his patrol vehicle, with its emergency lights activated, to block the travel lane to protect other motorists. The Nissan came to a stop at mile marker 19.6 in Bedford.
The driver was identified as 72-year-old Paul Conners of Nashua.
Conners was arrested on charges of misdemeanor reckless conduct and violations of reckless operation and negligent driving. He is scheduled to appear in Merrimack District Court on Sept. 15, 2026.
No booking photograph was released.
New Hampshire Joins Generic Drug Settlement
Attorney General John M. Formella announced that New Hampshire has joined a coalition of 43 states and territories in reaching a settlement in principle with Sandoz Inc. over allegations involving generic prescription drug pricing.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the proposed agreement is valued at approximately $400 million and resolves allegations that the company engaged in long-running conspiracies to inflate prices, reduce competition and restrain trade involving numerous generic prescription drugs.
If finalized and approved by the court, Sandoz will pay approximately $469 million to participating state attorneys general, including amounts previously paid through settlements with certain states.
The proposed settlement also requires Sandoz to implement compliance and oversight reforms intended to strengthen competition and prevent future antitrust violations.
The agreement remains subject to execution by participating states and territories and final court approval as the multistate litigation continues toward a scheduled 2027 trial against the remaining defendants.
Federal Prison Sentence in Fentanyl Case
A citizen of the Dominican Republic and former Boston resident has been sentenced in federal court in Concord to 10 years in prison for distributing nearly 700 grams of fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Erin Creegan announced that 26-year-old Niulmi Baez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Landya B. McCafferty to 120 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release.
Baez previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute more than 400 grams of fentanyl.
Federal prosecutors said law enforcement began investigating Baez in late 2021 after learning he was selling drugs. Between November 2021 and June 2022, an undercover officer conducted multiple controlled drug purchases from Baez.
Authorities said Baez later returned to the Dominican Republic before being arrested at Logan Airport on Oct. 2, 2025, after investigators learned he planned to return to the United States.
His co-defendant, Hamet Badia, was previously sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in the conspiracy.
Goffstown Man Sentenced on Drug and Firearm Charges
A Goffstown man has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison on firearm and narcotics charges.
Federal officials said 45-year-old Mark Williams was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante to 102 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release.
According to court documents, Williams was driving a borrowed vehicle when he was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Goffstown during the early morning hours of Oct. 27, 2023.
Authorities said Williams left the scene before police arrived. After the vehicle was towed, investigators searched it and recovered a loaded 9mm handgun along with distribution-level quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl.
Williams was arrested on Nov. 13, 2023, and has remained in custody since his arrest.