United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CONCORD, N.H. – DEA New England Division Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle and United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced Jonathan Felch, 37, of Goffstown, was sentenced to serve 96 months in federal prison for participating in a fentanyl drug trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents and statements made in court, during an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included court-authorized wiretaps, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned Felch regularly obtained fentanyl from a source in Lawrence, Mass. and then sold the fentanyl in New Hampshire.

On March 14, 2018, investigators learned Felch had ordered 20 grams of fentanyl and was traveling on Interstate 93.  The New Hampshire State Police subsequently stopped a vehicle for motor vehicle violations in which Felch was a passenger.  Felch later admitted he had drugs in his possession and provided the troopers with approximately 18 grams of fentanyl.

Again, on April 6, 2018, investigators learned Felch intended to travel from New Hampshire to Lawrence to purchase drugs.  Agents conducted surveillance of Felch and observed him meet with another individual in Lawrence.  Later that day, Felch returned to New Hampshire in a vehicle that was stopped in Manchester for a motor vehicle violation.  Officers later located approximately 23 grams of fentanyl and a digital scale in the vehicle. Over the course of the wiretap investigation, Felch ordered more than 600 grams of fentanyl.

Felch previously pleaded guilty May 30, 2019.

“The state of New Hampshire is faced with an opioid crisis unlike ever before,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “Fentanyl is causing great damage to our communities and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy lives.”

“This case once again highlights the familiar Lawrence to New Hampshire fentanyl distribution route,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “The 8 year prison term should serve as a warning to those inclined to introduce this drug into the Granite State. Traffickers should realize that we will continue to seek substantial prison terms for those who engage in this conduct.”  

The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the DEA; New Hampshire State Police; Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; Nashua Police Department; Massachusetts State Police;  Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; Essex County District Attorney’s Office; Internal Revenue Service; Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; United States Customs and Border Protection Boston Field Office; the United States Marshals Service; United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; Manchester Police Department; Lisbon Police Department;  Littleton Police Department; Seabrook Police Department; Haverhill (MA) Police Department; Methuen (MA) Police Department; Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.

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