CONCORD, NH – New Hampshire Attorney General Joseph A. Foster, Nashua Police Chief Andrew J. Lavoie, and Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, jointly announce the indictment of Kevin Manchester, 27, of Nashua, for Acts Prohibited relating to the sale and possession of the controlled drug, fentanyl.
On May 18, 2016, Manchester was indicted by the Grand Jurors of Hillsborough County, Nashua, for multiple sales of fentanyl, under New Hampshire RSA 318-B, Acts Prohibited. These indictments included a charge of possessing fentanyl, and five charges for individual sales/dispersals of fentanyl in early 2016.
One of these sales is charged as Acts Prohibited, Death Resulting. Specifically, that indictment alleges that Kevin Manchester did knowingly dispense or sell fentanyl to Michelle MacLeod on January 22, 2016, that she ingested and which caused her death.
All six indictments are felony-level offenses with various terms of incarceration and fines. The charge of Acts Prohibited, Death Resulting carries with it a possible maximum sentence of life with the possibility of parole in state prison for dispensing a controlled drug which causes another person’s death.
These indictments come after a four month joint investigation by the Nashua Police Department and the DEA’s Manchester Office, with the assistance of the Office of the Attorney General and the New Hampshire State Police Department’s Major Crime Unit under the direction of New Hampshire State Police Colonel Robert L. Quinn.
“Last year, fentanyl was solely or partially responsible for over 280 overdose deaths in New Hampshire. As of May 2nd, there were already 54 confirmed overdose deaths caused exclusively or partially by fentanyl and 70 overdose deaths are pending toxicology. Fentanyl is a serial killer and those who sell it to our citizens will be held responsible,” Foster said.
“The Nashua Police Department has been working diligently since January to bring the dealer responsible for Michelle MacLeod’s death to justice. We have worked hand-in-hand with our federal, state, and local partners on the DEA task force to stop the dealers who provide these illegal drugs to the citizens of Nashua. The successful investigation into Michelle MacLeod’s death highlights this inter-agency cooperation that is needed to attack this heroin/fentanyl epidemic,” said Nashua Police Chief Andrew Lavoie.
“Anytime there is a loss of life involving a drug overdose it is a tragic event, but even more so in this case given that the victim is a young mother,” said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. “Those suffering from the disease of fentanyl and heroin addiction need access to treatment and recovery. However, those responsible for distributing these lethal drugs like heroin and fentanyl need to be held accountable for their actions. In response to the ongoing opioid epidemic, DEA and its local, state, and federal partners are committed to bringing to justice those that distribute this poison.”
It is anticipated that Manchester will be arraigned in Nashua at the Hillsborough Superior Court – Southern District Superior Court on the morning of May 26, 2016.