Bay State heroin supplier to be charged in Rochester man's OD death

CONCORD - A convicted Massachusetts drug dealer will face charges in the fentanyl overdose death of a 30-year-old Rochester man last October.

Viterbo Enrique-Minaya, also known as Francisco Rodriguez-Benitez, 31, formerly of Lawrence, is accused of selling the fentanyl that caused the overdose death of Brandon Laurion on Oct. 30 or 31, 2016, in Rochester.

Minaya sold the fentanyl in Lawrence to Amber Nicholson, and this fentanyl was ultimately provided to Laurion, according to a press release from the New Hampshire's Attorney General's Office on Monday.

This is the first case where a drug dealer operating out of state faces charges in connection with a New Hampshire drug overdose death, the press release said.

Robert Brochu, 32, with a last known address of 9 Pleasant St., Berwick; Nicholson, 34, formerly of Milton and Rochester; and Sarah Quint, 29, of 16 Pleasant St., Dover, were also indicted in Laurion's death.

Police first responded to a 911 call around 7:15 a.m. on Oct. 31 to Reagan Drive, where Laurion was found unresponsive and declared dead at the scene.

Autopsy results showed his death to be from fentanyl, a synthetic opiate 30 times more potent than heroin.

Brochu, and Nicholson were indicted in April on charges of acts prohibited, death resulting and acts prohibited, while Quint, Laurion's girlfriend, is charged with conspiracy to commit acts prohibited for aiding in the purchase of the drug from a supplier in Lawrence, Mass.; and bail jumping.

While responders weren't called till the morning of Oct. 31, a police affidavit states that Quint called an acquaintance Oct. 30 around 8:55 p.m. to say it appeared that Laurion had overdosed, but that she feared calling 911 because she had arrest warrants out against her.

Later she told detectives that during the evening she thought Laurion had overdosed because he was unresponsive, but added she didn't call 911 because she could see his chest was still moving.

Minaya was arrested in Massachusetts in November 2016 and was charged with four counts of trafficking heroin and two counts of conspiracy to violate the drug law. He is currently serving time in a Massachusetts state prison.

Additional details of the case are expected to be presented today at a morning press briefing in Rochester.