The erstwhile CEO of Granite Recovery Centers, a web of cause and intoxicant attraction centers successful New Hampshire, was arrested Friday for allegedly orchestrating a conspiracy to stalk journalists, the Department of Justice said in a statement.
Eric Spofford, 40, was accused of targeting journalists employed by New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) successful retaliation for publishing an investigation that allegedly revealed aggregate allegations of intersexual misconduct against him portion helium was the CEO of the betterment centers. Spofford opened the Granite Recovery Centers aft struggling with heroin addiction and turned the concern into the largest addiction attraction web successful New Hampshire.
The NHPR nonfiction made a splash, grabbing the attraction of section and nationalist media, officials said. Spofford publically denied the allegations and aboriginal sued the nationalist vigor station for defamation. He claimed the nationalist vigor presumption filed a "hit piece" against him. He said successful his ailment that arsenic a effect of the investigation, fiscal institutions declined to bash concern with him, had vendors abruptly resign from moving with his companies, and was distanced from moving with New Hampshire politicians.
He said successful tribunal documents that helium didn't consciousness comfy successful his location authorities aft the probe was published.
A New Hampshire judge dismissed Spofford's suit successful 2023.
The Department of Justice said Spofford devised a program opening successful oregon astir March 2022 and continuing done astatine slightest May 2022, to harass and terrorize the writer who authored the article, the journalist's contiguous household members, arsenic good arsenic a elder exertion successful effect and retaliation for the station's reporting.
He allegedly hired his adjacent person Eric Labarge to vandalize and spray overgarment the victims' homes with ample rocks and bricks, lewd and threatening language.
"JUST THE BEGINNING" was spray-painted connected the reporter's home, according to WBUR vigor station.
Spofford allegedly paid Labarge $20,000 successful cash, gave him the victims' addresses and directions connected however to harass them. Labarge, successful turn, hired Tucker Cockerline, Keenan Saniatan and Michael Waselchuck to transportation retired the stalking campaign.
Labarge, Cockerline, Saniatan and Waselchuck were charged, convicted and sentenced to situation for their engagement successful the harassment campaign.
Spofford said he sold Granite Recovery Centers for 9 figures successful 2021. CBS News reached retired to Spofford for remark connected his arrest.
He is scheduled to look successful national tribunal successful Boston connected Monday.
New Hampshire Public Radio said they were grateful to the Department of Justice for pursuing the case.
"Everyone astatine New Hampshire Public Radio is grateful to the FBI and U.S. Attorney's Office for their persistence successful pursuing Eric Spofford and his associates," NHPR President and CEO Jim Schachter said successful a statement. "His effort to soundlessness NHPR's reporting connected abuses of powerfulness successful the addiction betterment manufacture failed, arsenic should each effort to snuff retired property freedom."
Cara Tabachnick is simply a quality exertion astatine CBSNews.com. Cara began her vocation connected the transgression bushed astatine Newsday. She has written for Marie Claire, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. She reports connected justness and quality rights issues. Contact her astatine cara.tabachnick@cbsinteractive.com
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