United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MAR 16 - CONCORD, N.H. - Michael J. Ferguson Special Agent-in-Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England, and Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced that Kenneth Chapman, 62, formerly of Kingston, New Hampshire, pled guilty to unlawful distribution of fentanyl.

According to documents filed in United States District Court and statements in the court proceeding, on June 12, 2016, Chapman sold a quantity of fentanyl to “M.W.”, a 31-year old male from Atkinson, New Hampshire.  Because of a 911 call the following morning, emergency personnel responded to a residence in Atkinson, where they found M.W. dead from a suspected drug overdose. In the immediate vicinity of the body, law enforcement officers found a tied-off plastic bag that contained a white powdery substance that was determined to be fentanyl. An autopsy determined M.S.’ death was caused by acute fentanyl intoxication. Chapman is scheduled to be sentenced on June 28, 2017. The plea agreement contains a binding stipulation that the parties agree to recommend to the Court that Chapman be sentenced within a range of 96 months to 144 months of imprisonment; however, the Court deferred acceptance of the stipulation until the time of sentencing. 

“Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels in New Hampshire,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Fentanyl is causing overdose deaths across the granite state, and DEA is committed to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives.  This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.”

Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley said, “Fentanyl continues to be the cause of far too many deaths in the granite state. The aggressive investigation and prosecution of individuals engaged in fentanyl trafficking in New Hampshire remains a top priority of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners at the local, state. and federal levels. While we support access to treatment for those who suffer from addiction, those who distribute these deadly drugs need to be held accountable for the substantial damage they are causing in our community.”
This case was investigated by DEA with assistance from Kingston and Atkinson Police Departments.