Ex-CEO of NH addiction centers allegedly...

Crime

The founder of Granite Recovery Centers allegedly plotted to “harass and terrorize” New Hampshire Public Radio journalists, prosecutors said.

The founder and former CEO of an addiction treatment company in New Hampshire has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly conspiring to stalk journalists at New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR), federal prosecutors said.

Eric Spofford, 40, of Salem, N.H. and Miami, 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, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts. He was arrested Friday and appeared in court Monday.

For each count of the indictment, Spofford could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Spofford founded Granite Recovery Centers (GRC), a for-profit drug and alcohol treatment company, in 2008. NHPR published an article in March 2022 detailing multiple allegations against Spofford of sexual misconduct, abusive leadership, and retaliation during his time as CEO of GRC, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

When the article attracted local and national media attention, Spofford denied the allegations and sued NHPR for defamation, federal prosecutors said. A New Hampshire judge dismissed Spofford’s lawsuit in 2023.

From about March 2022 to at least May 2022, Spofford allegedly plotted to “harass and terrorize” Lauren Chooljian, who wrote the article; Daniel Barrick, her editor; and their immediate family members, according to multiple previous reports. The alleged scheme involved vandalizing the victims’ homes by throwing large rocks and bricks and by spray painting “lewd and threatening language.”

Chooljian posted about these acts of vandalism on X, sharing that bricks were thrown through her and Barrick’s windows and that the “c-word” had been spray painted on her parents’ garage.

5 incidents of vandalism targeting journalists.

The c-word spray-painted in red on my parents’ garage. 2 separate times.

The c-word in red on @danielbarrick’s front door. And on a house I used to live in. Bricks thrown through windows.

Here’s my house. It’s not okay. pic.twitter.com/N6KJnOmsJt

— Lauren Chooljian (@laurenchooljian) May 31, 2022

Spofford allegedly hired Eric Labarge, a close friend, to carry out the scheme, according to federal prosecutors. He allegedly provided Labarge with the victims’ addresses, gave instructions on how to harass and stalk the victims, and paid Labarge $20,000 in cash.

Labarge enlisted the help of Tucker Cockerline, Keenan Saniatan, and Michael Waselchuck to carry out the scheme, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. All four men were indicted in September 2023 and later convicted.

In July 2024, Labarge pleaded guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to commit stalking through interstate travel and using a facility of interstate commerce and aiding and abetting. In November 2024, he was sentenced to 46 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $10,000 fine and $34,139 in restitution to the victims.

Cockerline was sentenced to 27 months in prison in August 2024; Waselchuck was sentenced to 21 months in prison in September 2024; and Saniatan was sentenced to 30 months in prison in December 2024, according to federal prosecutors.