Rochester Man Pleads Guilty to Distribution of Fentanyl

            CONCORD - Michael Rand, 36, of Rochester, pleaded guilty on Monday in federal court to distribution of fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in October of 2019 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) received a tip that Rand was selling heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in the Dover and Rochester areas. Working with a cooperating individual, the FBI arranged for a controlled purchase of fentanyl at Rand’s apartment in November of 2019. 

            Rand is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2022.

            “Fentanyl trafficking endangers lives and damages communities,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “We work closely with the FBI and all our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug dealers who are peddling fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in the Granite State.”

            “Today, Michael Rand admitted to selling the deadly drug fentanyl which is associated with the vast majority of drug overdose deaths in New Hampshire,” said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop the distribution of fentanyl and to bring to justice those like Rand who are pushing highly addictive drugs on our streets and into the hands of addicts.”

             This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.

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