United States Drug Enforcement Administration

CONCORD, N.H. – Five Rochester residents pleaded guilty this week in federal court to drug offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

The following defendants pleaded guilty to drug offenses:

1. Monty Granger, age 43, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and three counts of distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 9, 2024.
2. Michelle Fredette-Chatman, age 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 13, 2024.
3. Edward Deal III, age 38, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for September 18, 2024.

Charged in a separate indictment, the following defendants also pleaded guilty to drug offenses:

4. Felix Urrutia, age 51, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for July 15, 2024.
5. Hailey Cahill, age 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Court Judge Paul Barbadoro scheduled sentencing for September 10, 2024.

Between October 3 and October 12, 2023, Mr. Granger sold methamphetamine to a confidential source on three occasions. On October 23, 2023, the confidential source paid Mr. Granger for another methamphetamine purchase. Thereafter, Mr. Deal organized the drug transaction and Ms. Fredette-Chatman ultimately sold the methamphetamine to the confidential source.

Between July 27, 2023 and October 2023, Ms. Cahill sold methamphetamine to Mr. Urrutia on several occasions. Thereafter, Urrutia sold the methamphetamine to a confidential source. Investigators uncovered the conspiracy through surveillance of Ms. Cahill, who left her home and met with Mr. Urrutia prior to each drug transaction between Mr. Urrutia and the confidential source.

The charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances and the distribution of controlled substances provides for a sentence up to 20 years in prison, at least a three-year term of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. The Major Offender Task Force is comprised of federal agents partnered with law enforcement officers from police departments state-wide. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover and Rochester Police Departments, the Strafford County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske is prosecuting the case.