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 that Robert McLain, 27, of Groveton, N.H., was sentenced to 65 months in prison for participating in a fentanyl drug trafficking conspiracy.

According to court documents and statements made in court, as a result of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation, agents and task force officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that on March 1, 2018, McLain intended to travel from New Hampshire to a location in Lawrence, Mass., to purchase 250 grams of a controlled substance. Agents conducted surveillance in the area of the transaction and observed a known drug trafficker get in the back seat of the car, and after a few minutes, get out again. The vehicle left Massachusetts and agents followed it directly to New Hampshire.

The agents informed a New Hampshire state trooper patrolling Interstate Route 93 about their surveillance observations. The trooper stopped the vehicle for traffic violations and identified the driver and McLain as the passenger. McLain subsequently admitted to purchasing one gram of fentanyl, which he claimed he swallowed. The owner of the vehicle consented to a search of her car and signed a consent to search form. The troopers found a hidden compartment in the vehicle that contained approximately 240 grams of fentanyl. McLain admitted that he purchased fentanyl in Lawrence and resold the fentanyl in New Hampshire. Over the course of the investigation, McLain ordered approximately 560 grams of fentanyl. McLain also admitted that he traded fentanyl in exchange for a firearm.

McLain directed officers to approximately $11,000 of admitted drug proceeds and firearms. Officers seized four handguns, a rifle and ammunition from McLain’s residence. They also seized soda cans that were manufactured with a hidden compartment to conceal narcotics. The cash, firearms and ammunition were forfeited to the United States. McLain previously pleaded guilty on Oct. 1, 2018.

“Fentanyl is causing deaths in record numbers and DEA’s top priority is to aggressively pursue anyone who distributes this poison,” said Special Agent in Charge Boyle. “Today’s sentence not only holds Mr. McLain accountable for his crimes, but serves as a warning to those traffickers who are fueling the opioid epidemic in the Granite State.”

“Interstate fentanyl trafficking is causing tremendous damage to communities throughout New Hampshire,” said U.S. Attorney Murray. “In order to protect public safety, we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to identify, prosecute and incarcerate those who are responsible for bringing this deadly drug into the Granite State.”

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, 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 (Mass.) Police Department, Methuen (Mass.) Police Department, Lowell (Mass.) Police Department and the Maine State Police.

# # #