Manchester Man Sentenced to 30 Months for Distribution of Fentanyl

            CONCORD - Michael Messina, 34, of Manchester, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

           According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 4, 2019, Manchester police detectives observed Messina engage in an apparent drug deal.  Immediately after the exchange, the customer placed a small object down his pants. The two men then separated and walked in opposite directions.  Suspecting another drug deal, detectives separately detained both Messina and the customer.  After relinquishing a quantity fentanyl to detectives, the customer admitted purchasing fentanyl from Messina. 

           Messina was approached and dropped money and a cellophane wrapper containing powder that later tested positive for fentanyl.  After waiving his rights, Messina admitted to selling drugs to the customer. 

           “Fentanyl traffickers endanger lives by selling an extremely deadly substance,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “To protect the public, we are working with the Manchester Police Department to identify and prosecute the traffickers who are distributing fentanyl and other dangerous opioids in Manchester.”  

           This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.

           This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).  In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts.  The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.   In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.