NH Fentanyl Dealer With Lawrence Stash Pleads Guilty

CONCORD, NH — A New Hampshire fentanyl dealer caught after picking up a stash in Lawrence, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty to trafficking charges, authorities announced Tuesday. Stephen Marando, 57, of Franklin, was arrested in April 2017.

"Marando and another individual drove from Franklin, New Hampshire, to Lawrence, Massachusetts in order to buy fentanyl," U.S. Attorney Scott Murray said in a statement. "After they obtained the fentanyl and were on their way back to Franklin, the New Hampshire State Police conducted a traffic stop on their vehicle. During the course of the stop, the other individual attempted to discard a package containing 91 grams of fentanyl that they had picked up in Lawrence."

Marando pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. He will be sentenced October 31.

"Each day, law enforcement officers in New Hampshire are working to stop the deadly flow of fentanyl into our state," Murray said.

Last week, U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions visited New Hampshire and announced Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, a law enforcement program targeting opioid dealers in New Hampshire and nine other regions across the country.

"We are going to arrest, prosecute, and convict fentanyl dealers and we are going to put them in jail," Sessions said.

"Fentanyl is a deadly drug that continues to cause grave damage to the people of the Granite State," Murray added. "In order to protect the safety of our community, we will use every resource at our disposal to investigate and prosecute drug dealers who sell fentanyl in New Hampshire."

Previous:

• In NH, Jeff Sessions Announces Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge
• NH Fentanyl Trafficker Gets 10 Years In Prison
• NH Fentanyl Dealer Gets 5 Years In Prison, Faces Deportation
• Nashua Fentanyl Trafficker Pleads Guilty In Undercover Bust

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