Major supplier of heroin, fentanyl to Rochester, Dover pleads guilty to trafficking

CONCORD - A major drug runner who sold fentanyl in the Rochester and Dover area has pleaded guilty in federal court to fentanyl trafficking charges, Acting U.S. Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

Derrick Jennings, 48, formerly of Manchester, utilized runners for smaller buys and took care of larger ones, himself, according to a plea deal document obtained by The Rochester Voice.

Court documents and statements in court further showed that while on supervised release for a prior drug trafficking crime, Jennings sold fentanyl on three separate occasions in January and February 2016, to an individual who was cooperating with the Rochester Police Department.

According to the plea deal agreement, in December of 2015, Rochester Police received information from an anonymous tipster that the defendant was selling large quantities of heroin in the Rochester and Dover areas that was being brought from Manchester. The information also indicated that the defendant resided at a specific location on Bodwell Road, in Manchester, New Hampshire ("Bodwell Road residence"). The tipster also stated that the defendant drove a black 2002 Volvo V70 and silver 2006 White Volvo.

Also in December of 2015, the Manchester Police Department received a similar tip about the defendant. That tip stated that the defendant picked up large amounts of heroin each day and distributed the drug in Manchester, Dover, and Rochester. This tip stated that the defendant had two individuals move drugs for him because he was on parole. The tip stated that the defendant operated a black 2002 Volvo V70 and a silver 2004 Volvo V60.

Beginning in January 2016, the Strafford County Drug Task Force utilized a confidential source ... to make three controlled purchases of fentanyl from the defendant. The source knew the defendant as "Dewey" and "Derek" and was aware that he had served time in federal prison. The same source also said that they were able to purchase heroin from the defendant and believed that the defendant delivered more than 400 grams of heroin to Rochester every week. The source also stated that the defendant commonly used multiple "runners" to sell heroin but would deal with him/her directly in 10 gram amounts of heroin (commonly referred to as 'fingers'). The source also provided the same telephone number for the defendant that the defendant provided to the U.S. Probation Office when he commenced his term of supervised release.

Meanwhile, on April 6, 2016, two individuals were arrested by the Manchester Police Department during a traffic stop after a search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 244.45 grams of fentanyl that had been packaged for sale. Investigators determined that the individuals were drug "runners" for Jennings. On July 18, 2016, 57.7 grams of fentanyl, a digital scale, multiple cellphones, and $6,100 in cash were recovered when a search warrant was executed at Jennings' apartment in Manchester. Jennings became a fugitive, but was arrested in November of 2016. The cash was forfeited to the United States.

Jennings pleaded guilty to three counts of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. He will be sentenced on May 31.

"The aggressive investigation and prosecution of fentanyl trafficking is a top priority of the United States Attorney's Office and our law enforcement partners," said Farley. "Individuals like this defendant who seek to profit from the sale of this deadly drug are causing grave damage to our community. We will work tirelessly to stop fentanyl trafficking and to protect the citizens of the Granite State from its deadly effects."

"Those suffering from the disease of opioid addiction need access to treatment and recovery," said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. "But those responsible for distributing lethal drugs like fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions. DEA's top priority is combatting the opioid epidemic by working with our local, county and state law enforcement partners to bring to justice those that distribute this poison."

This investigation was conducted by the DEA, the Strafford County Drug Task Force, and the Manchester and Rochester, New Hampshire Police Departments. The United States Marshals-led New Hampshire Joint Fugitive Task Force also provided valuable assistance. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis is prosecuting the case.