Latest news with #Spofford
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
They Reported on Him — Then the Bricks Started Flying: Inside Allegations Against CEO Accused of Targeting Journalists
Eric Spofford, former CEO of Granite Recovery Centers, was arrested over allegations of retaliating against New Hampshire Public Radio journalists Prosecutors say Spofford paid a friend $20,000 to lead a coordinated harassment campaign from March to May 2022 Several men carried out acts of vandalism and intimidation, including smashing windows and spray-painting threatsThe former CEO of Granite Recovery Centers was arrested Friday over allegations of stalking and orchestrating attacks on the homes of New Hampshire Public Radio journalists who published claims of sexual misconduct against him. Eric Spofford, 40, the CEO of the New Hampshire-based network of drug and alcohol treatment centers, was accused of targeting journalists at NHPR in retaliation for an investigation they published where the NPR station allegedly revealed multiple accusations of sexual misconduct during his leadership, according to a statement by the Department of Justice. The NHPR article, which detailed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, abusive leadership and retaliation by Spofford during his time as CEO, garnered significant local and national media attention, according to the statement. Spofford denied the allegations and later sued the media organizations for defamation, but a New Hampshire judge dismissed his lawsuit in 2023. Prosecutors say that from March to May 2022, Spofford devised a scheme in which he paid his close friend, Eric Labarge, $20,000 to harass and terrorize Lauren Chooljian — the journalist who wrote the article — along with her immediate family and a senior editor at NHPR. Labarge then allegedly enlisted the help of Tucker Cockerline, Keenan Saniatan and Michael Waselchuck to carry out the stalking campaign, per the statement from the Department of Justice. The men are accused of having vandalized the homes of Chooljian, her editor, and a house where her parents previously lived, smashing windows with rocks and bricks, The New York Times reported. One of the vandals spray-painted 'Just the beginning!' on an outside wall of her four men were previously charged and have been convicted, per the Department of Justice. Labarge was sentenced to 46 months in prison in November 2024. Cockerline received 27 months in August 2024. Saniatan was sentenced to 30 months in September 2024 and Waselchuck received 21 months in prison that same month. Spofford has been indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel, one count of stalking using a facility of interstate commerce and two counts of stalking through interstate travel. Read the original article on People
NBC News
3 days ago
- NBC News
Founder of New Hampshire addiction center charged in scheme to intimidate journalists
The founder and former CEO of New Hampshire's largest network of addiction centers was arrested Friday after federal prosecutors say he orchestrated a conspiracy to stalk and harass local journalists in retaliation for unfavorable reporting. The Justice Department announced the charges against Eric Spofford, 40, who founded the for-profit drug and alcohol treatment company Granite Recovery Centers, in a Friday press release. Prosecutors said Spofford — who lives in both Salem, New Hampshire, and Miami, Florida — was 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. From March 2022 and continuing through at least May 2022, Spofford allegedly devised a scheme to harass and terrorize a reporter employed by New Hampshire Public Radio, her immediate family members and a senior editor at NHPR in retaliation for the outlet's reporting, officials said. That year, NHPR reported multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, abusive leadership and retaliation by Spofford during his time as CEO of the addiction center. Spofford denied the allegations and later filed a defamation lawsuit against the outlet, officials said. A judge dismissed Spofford's suit, NHPR reported. Prosecutors said Spofford paid his close friend $20,000 to throw large rocks and bricks at the victims' homes at night and spray-paint the properties with 'lewd and threatening language.' Spofford's friend was assisted by three others who are currently in prison for their involvement in the harassment scheme, prosecutors said. Jim Schachter, the president and CEO of NHPR, thanked the Justice Department in a statement on X and said that 'attacks on journalists have no place in American life.' 'His attempt to silence our reporting failed, as should every attempt to snuff out press freedom,' he wrote. The journalist who reported the investigation, Lauren Chooljian, did not immediately return a request for comment. Each count against Spofford carries a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000, prosecutors said. An attorney for Spofford could not be immediately reached for comment. A spokesperson for Granite Recovery Centers said in a phone call that Spofford sold the company three years ago and that 'he has nothing to do with the company.'
