Former Manchester Man Sentenced To Ten Years In Federal Prison For Fentanyl Trafficking

          CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today that Derick Jennings, 48, formerly of Manchester, was sentenced to serve a total of ten years in federal prison for fentanyl trafficking offenses.

          Court documents and statements in court showed that, while on supervised release for a prior drug trafficking crime, Jennings sold fentanyl on three separate occasions in January and February 2016, to an individual who cooperated with the Rochester, New Hampshire Police Department.  On April 6, 2016, two individuals were arrested in Manchester during a traffic stop that resulted in the seizure of 244.45 grams of fentanyl that had been packaged for sale.  Investigators determined that the individuals were drug “runners” for Jennings.  On July 18, 2016, the DEA executed a search warrant at Jennings’ Manchester, New Hampshire apartment and seized 57.7 grams of fentanyl, a digital scale, multiple cellphones, and $6,100 in cash.  The cash was later forfeited to the United States.

           Jennings pleaded guilty on February 15, 2018, to three counts of distributing fentanyl, one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.

          Jennings was sentenced to serve eight years in federal prison for the drug trafficking offenses and two years of additional imprisonment for violating the terms of his supervised release, for a total of ten years in prison.

          When released from federal prison, Jennings will be on supervised release for four years.

          “The Attorney General’s recent visit to New Hampshire once again highlighted the damage that fentanyl is doing to our community,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “In order to protect the public, we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to target, prosecute and deter the drug traffickers who distribute this deadly drug in the Granite State.”

          “Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. Jennings accountable for his crimes but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic.

          This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshal’s New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force, the Strafford County Drug Task Force and the Manchester and Rochester, New Hampshire Police Departments.  Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis prosecuted the case.

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