Updated Sat, 2013-04-20 13:16

Rich Paul, the founder of the daily “420 at 4:20” events, was found guilty in a jury trial today of four counts of distributing marijuana and one count of distributing LSD.

It appears that the FBI has been trying to infiltrate the Keene Activist Center (KAC). In April and May of last year, Special Agent Philip Christiana of the FBI, working with New Hampshire Drug Task Force officers Trooper Charles I. Newton, undercover James C. Mayers, Barry Hunter, and a handful of others, used a “confidential informant” by the name of Richard James DuPont, Jr., to set up at least four buys with Rich in the hopes of coercing him into wearing a wire into the KAC. DuPont himself was a heroin dealer who, according to his own testimony, snitched on six other people, at least three of whom were subsequently arrested. When Rich was finally busted, rather than coöperate with the FBI, he promptly went public with the FBI’s attempts at turning him into an informant on other liberty activists.

Additional details including Rich’s account of the FBI’s interview of him can be found at the links below.

Rich was jailed at the conclusion of the trial pending sentencing and is currently at the Cheshire County jail. You can write to Rich in jail using the Mail-to-Jail service. He has not been sentenced yet, but could serve up to 81 years in prison.

Below are links to extensive coverage on Free Keene and other media. We’ll update this page as more coverage is posted.

• NHJury.com feature article.
• Examiner: Rich Paul rejects spying on friends, seeks jury nullification.
• VICE: Eighty-one years for weed?
• Free Keene:
  • Rich Paul’s full trial video
  • Rich Paul trial audio, day 3
  • Rich Paul found guilty – juror admits, “We didn’t want to break the law.”
  • Rich Paul trial: Live updates.
  • Trial audio from day 1 of State v. Rich Paul.
  • Hearing on motion to restrict recording of witnesses in Rich Paul’s trial.
  • Vice and the Examiner cover Rich Paul’s story.
  • Rich Paul refuses plea offer of no jail time.
  • Lew Rockwell blogs about Rich Paul, the FBI, and Keene.
  • Rich Paul’s story, part 1: Activist entrapped, blackmailed by FBI!
  • Police to release heroin dealer to bust cannabis dealer?
  • 420 celebrations are back daily in Central Square!
  • Rich Paul facing 81 years in prison for cannabis distribution, refuses plea deal – trial April 16 @ 9 AM.