He was arrested Friday after federal prosecutors said he planned a report of conspiracy to stalk and harass local journalists in retaliation.

The Justice Department announced the allegations against 40-year-old Eric Spofford, who set up a for-profit drug and alcohol treatment company, Granite Restoration Center.

Prosecutors said Spofford, who lives in Salem, New Hampshire and Miami, Florida, is charged with one count of conspiracy to follow through interstate travel and using interstate trade facilities. One count of stalking using an interstate trade facility; and two counts of stalking during interstate travel.

Officials say that starting from March 2022 and continuing until at least May 2022, Spoft allegedly developed a plan to harass and intimidate journalists hired by New Hampshire Public Radio, her immediate family and a senior editor at NHPR in retaliation for the store’s reports.

That year, NHPR reported multiple charges of sexual misconduct, abuse of leadership and retaliation against Spofod during his time as CEO of the Center for Addiction. Officials said Spofold denied the allegations and later filed a defamation lawsuit against the exit. The judge dismissed Spofod’s lawsuit, NHPR reported.

Prosecutors said Spofod paid his close friends $20,000 to throw large pieces of rock and brick at the victim’s house at night and sprayed the property with “lustful and threatening language.”

Prosecutors said Spofod’s friends were assisted by three other people, who are currently in jail for participating in the harassment program.

NHPR President and CEO Jim Schachter thanked the Department of Justice in a statement on X and said: "The attack on journalists has no place in American life."

"His attempt to silence our report failed, every attempt to eliminate the freedom of the press," he wrote.

Lauren Chooljian, a journalist who reported the investigation, did not immediately return a request for comment.

Prosecutors say everyone targeting Spofold could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000.

Comments with Spofod's attorney cannot be immediately posted.

A spokesman for the Granite Restoration Center said on the phone that Spoft sold the company three years ago, “he had nothing to do with the company.”

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