Rochester Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl and Methamphetamine

CONCORD – A Rochester man was sentenced today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Hampshire, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Bradford Sargent, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante to 108 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release. On March 28, 2023, Sargent pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Sargent’s co-defendant, Jennelle Brown, was sentenced to 5 years in federal prison on May 12, 2023.

“The defendant and his co-defendant were significant fentanyl and methamphetamine dealers in the Seacoast,” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young.  “Law enforcement in the Granite State will continue their concerted efforts to disrupt conspiracies to distribute vast quantities of these dangerous drugs.”

“Today’s sentence holds Bradford Sargent accountable for trafficking significant amounts of deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Hampshire, and perpetuating the destructive cycle of drug addiction,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt other large-scale drug traffickers like him who are intent on flooding our communities with their poison.”

Sargent, and his co-defendant Jennelle Brown, sold drugs multiple times from their hotel room in Portsmouth. When law enforcement searched their room, they uncovered large quantities of money, drugs, and drug ledgers.  Searches of two vehicles, storage units, and safety deposit boxes uncovered more currency and drugs.  In total, law enforcement seized over $130,000, approximately 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 650 grams of methamphetamine, and cocaine.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Strafford County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Jarad E. Hodes prosecuted the case.

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