Manchester man sentenced to 30 months for participating in fentanyl trafficking conspiracy

CONCORD, N.H. – Brian D. Boyle, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division and United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced that Albert Gordon, 45, of Manchester, was sentenced to serve 30 months in prison for participating in a conspiracy to distribute, and possession with intent to distribute, fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in the course of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation that included wiretaps of certain telephones, investigating agents learned that on March 7, 2018, an individual intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Massachusetts to purchase fentanyl.  Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction and observed a hand-to-hand exchange between a known drug trafficker and the driver of the car at the driver’s side window. The vehicle left Massachusetts and agents followed it directly to New Hampshire.  A New Hampshire State Trooper stopped the vehicle.  During the traffic stop, the Trooper subsequently located an orange bag containing approximately 184 grams of fentanyl.  Gordon admitted that another individual had asked him and his girlfriend to drive to Massachusetts to buy drugs and that they had agreed to do so.  The defendant previously pleaded guilty on August 29, 2018.

“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle.  “This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”

“Fentanyl is a deadly drug that continues to cause serious damage to communities throughout the Granite State,” said U.S. Attorney Murray.  “Those who choose to transport fentanyl into New Hampshire face serious prison terms.  Fentanyl trafficking will be prosecuted aggressively.  By targeting drug traffickers and getting fentanyl off the street, we are striving to protect the lives and safety of our citizens.”

The case was a collaborative investigation that involved the Drug Enforcement Administration; the New Hampshire State Police; the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office; the Nashua Police Department; the Massachusetts State Police; the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office; the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office; the Essex County District Attorney’s Office; the 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; the United States Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service; the Manchester Police Department; the Lisbon Police Department; the Littleton Police Department; the Seabrook Police Department; the Haverhill (MA) Police Department; the Methuen (MA) Police Department; the Lowell (MA) Police Department; and the Maine State Police.