Laconia Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking

            CONCORD - Robert Saint John, 31, of Laconia pleaded guilty in federal court to fentanyl trafficking charges, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.  

            According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 31, 2017, the defendant and two other men pooled their money for the purpose of buying drugs.  They drove together from Belmont, New Hampshire, to Lawrence, Massachusetts.  In Lawrence, the men met with their drug supplier, purchased a quantity of fentanyl, and began to drive back to New Hampshire.  On the highway near Derry, New Hampshire, the New Hampshire State Police conducted a traffic stop and seized a package containing approximately 111 grams of fentanyl.    

           Saint John pleaded guilty to one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and one count of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 17, 2018.

            “Stopping the deadly flow of fentanyl into New Hampshire is a high priority of the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Fentanyl has caused many overdose deaths in New Hampshire.  In order to protect our community, we will continue to work closely with all of our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute those who are responsible for distributing opioids in the Granite State.”

           “With today’s guilty plea, Mr. Saint John is accepting responsibility for peddling this deadly synthetic opioid, responsible for killing so many - at an alarming rate - across New Hampshire. However, there’s much more work to be done,” said Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Boston Division.“  Mr. Saint John is only one of many, fueling the flow of illegal drugs into our neighborhoods.  Together, with our law enforcement partners, the FBI will continue to do everything we possibly can to root out drug traffickers who seek to exploit vulnerable people suffering from addiction.”

           This matter was investigated by the FBI, the New Hampshire State Police, and the Laconia Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shane B. Kelbley.

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