Rochester man pleads guilty to fentanyl trafficking, firearm charges

Matthew MacLeod (Rochester Police photo)

CONCORD - A Rochester man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, the U.S. Attorneys Office reported today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on Nov. 7, officers from the Rochester Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Matthew MacLeod, 34, of Lafayette Street. During a later search of the vehicle officers found multiple drugs, including cocaine and more than 40 grams of fentanyl. Officers also seized a firearm from the vehicle.

MacLeod is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan 6.

"Armed drug dealers are a menace to the public," said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. "I am grateful for the work of the Rochester Police Department and the FBI in removing this threat from our streets. Close cooperation by law enforcement is essential to addressing the opioid crisis."

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Rochester Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Krasinski.

MacLeod was also arrested by Rochester Police last December in connection with an alleged assault of another Lafayette Street man on Dec. 15.

The victim, who suffered bruising to his face and neck, didn't report the assault until Dec. 18, however, which is when an investigation into the case began, Rochester Police Capt. Jason Thomas shortly after that arrest.

Macleod was charged with felony burglary with a firearm, felony being in possession of a dangerous weapon, felony assault, strangulation; felony criminal threatening with a deadly weapon, simple assault, bench warrant from Rochester Circuit Court, and felony in possession of dangerous weapon (possession of a firearm at time of arrest).

Rochester Police Officers picked up Macleod when he was spotted in a vehicle on Lafayette Street around 5 p.m. on Dec. 28.

The Strafford County Attorney's Office was not immediately available regarding adjudication of those charges.