Manchester Drug Dealer Faces 30 Years In Prison For Drug Distribution

MANCHESTER, NH — A Manchester man who was arrested after a raid at an auto shop last July pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to fentanyl and crack cocaine distribution charges, which could result in him spending up to 30 years in Federal prison.

In July, Manchester police SWAT, Special Enforcement Division, and federal agents raided a garage at 416 Lake Avenue in Manchester in July.

Walter Velez, 41, was arrested and charged with distributing controlled substances in connection with the sale of fentanyl accusation made to a confidential informant. According to the charging documents, Velez sold fentanyl and crack cocaine on four separate occasions — totaling more than 200 grams of fentanyl and more than 20 grams of crack cocaine.

According to the charging documents, Velez sold fentanyl and crack cocaine at his business, Velez Alignment & Auto Services, LLC, located at 416 Lake Avenue in Manchester, on four separate occasions. The four sales totaled over 200 grams of fentanyl and over 20 grams of crack cocaine.

The charges of distribution of a controlled substance provide for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, at least 6 years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $2,000,000.

Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes governing the determination of a sentence in a criminal case. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security led the investigation.

According to New Hampshire U.S. Attorney General Jane Young, the Manchester Police Department provided valuable assistance to the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Ward prosecuted the case. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Laplante scheduled sentencing for July 16, 2024.

©Jeffrey Hastings www.frameofmindphoto.com/news