Sanbornton Man Pleads Guilty To Heroin And Fentanyl Distribution Conspiracy

          CONCORD, N.H. – Michael Smith, 35, of Sanbornton, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to a federal indictment charging him with eight counts of distribution and one count of conspiracy to distribute the Schedule I controlled substance heroin and the Schedule II controlled substance fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice. 

          During a law enforcement investigation, a cooperating individual purchased heroin and/or fentanyl from the defendant on eight occasions. Lab results have confirmed that over 20 grams of the substance purchase contained fentanyl, over 57 grams contained heroin and over 19 grams contained a mixture of heroin and fentanyl. Smith obtained controlled substances from multiple sources and distributed to multiple customers, participating in the conspiracy since at least June, 2015.

          Smith’s plea agreement includes a binding stipulated sentence of 96 months’ incarceration. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for July 27, 2016 in front of United States District Judge Paul J. Barbadoro. At that time, the Court will decide whether to accept the plea agreement and impose the agreed-upon period of incarceration, as well as any other conditions of Smith’s sentence.

          The case was investigated by the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Drug Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The Drug Task Force for this case included law enforcement representatives from the Merrimack County Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin Police Department, the Concord Police Department and the New Hampshire Liquor Commission.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Georgiana L. Konesky.   

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