BY DAVE CHOATE

A former town resident has been arrested and charged by Washington state authorities with conspiracy to manufacture marijuana.

John Hien Nguyen was arrested on July 10 on Holly Street in Goffstown after driving across the country from Everett, Washington. Concord Deputy U.S. Marshal Jeffrey White said his offices had been alerted to Nguyen’s flight and saw his car in the driveway of the Holly Street home.

“We drove by looking for the car and it was there. We knocked, he was there and he cooperated, so it was a pretty straightforward arrest,” White said.

He said Washington marshals were searching for Nguyen in connection with two houses where marijuana was allegedly being manufactured. White said a man was also found dead in the basement of one of the Washington homes, but as of press time no one had been charged in connection with the body.

White confirmed that Nguyen is currently being held in the Strafford County Jail in Dover while he awaits extradition to Washington.