Rochester man pleads guilty to trafficking fentanyl, meth

Michael Rand (Rochester Police photo)

CONCORD - A Rochester man pleaded guilty on Monday to distribution of fentanyl, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced today.

Michael Rand, 36, had been under investigation by the FBI in 2019 after they received a tip that he was selling heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine in the Dover and Rochester area. Working with a cooperating individual, the FBI arranged for a controlled purchase of fentanyl at Rand's apartment in November of that year.

Rand is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22.

"Fentanyl trafficking endangers lives and damages communities," said Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. "We work closely with the FBI and all our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the drug dealers who are peddling fentanyl and other dangerous drugs in the Granite State."

"Michael Rand admitted to selling the deadly drug fentanyl which is associated with the vast majority of drug overdose deaths in New Hampshire," said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "The FBI will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to stop the distribution of fentanyl and to bring to justice those like Rand who are pushing highly addictive drugs on our streets and into the hands of addicts."

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kasey Weiland.