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.”
Officials said Spofford will appear in federal court in Boston on June 2.
