Fitchburg Man Pleads Guilty to Dealing Oxycodone

BOSTON – A Fitchburg man pleaded guilty today in federal court in Worcester to dealing Oxycodone.

Marc Merchant, 53, pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution and possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy S. Hillman scheduled sentencing for June 7, 2018.

On three occasions, Merchant distributed Oxycodone to an undercover agent in transactions that were audio and video recorded. On two instances, Aug. 9, 2016, and Feb. 17, 2017, Merchant distributed 100 pills to the agent, and on March 8, 2017, Merchant distributed 200 pills to the agent. Merchant was arrested on April 3, 2017, and was found in possession of over $4,000 in cash and approximately 40 Oxycodone pills. 

The charge provides for a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release, and a fine of $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling; Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Boston Field Division; and Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest F. Martineau made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Grady of Lelling’s Worcester Branch Office is prosecuting the case.