Farmington man gets seven years on fentanyl trafficking, firearms charges

CONCORD - A 45-year-old Farmington man was sentenced in federal court on Thursday to 84 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and unlawful possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Thomas Blanchette, conspired with others between approximately 2016 and December 20, 2018 to distribute fentanyl.

As part of the conspiracy, on Nov. 17, 2017, a New Hampshire State Police ("NHSP") trooper made a motor vehicle stop of co-conspirator Christopher Stearns' vehicle after observing several motor vehicle violations. Blanchette and his wife, co-conspirator Amy Blanchette, were passengers in the vehicle, along with another individual. The trooper subsequently seized the vehicle, executed a search warrant, and seized 176 grams of fentanyl from a box near the rear passenger seat where Amy Blanchette had been seated. Arrest warrants were obtained for Blanchette, Stearns and Amy Blanchette.

Then on Jan. 2, 2018, DEA agents observed Stearns and Thomas Blanchette in Stearns' vehicle travel to the area of Lawrence, Mass., and return to New Hampshire a short time later. A NHSP trooper stopped the vehicle and arrested Stearns and Thomas Blanchette on the outstanding arrest warrants. The NHSP subsequently executed a search warrant on Stearns' vehicle and seized more than 28 grams of fentanyl.

On December 20, 2018, DEA agents executed federal arrest warrants for Thomas and Amy Blanchette at their residence. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of quantities of fentanyl, cocaine, and several firearms. Thomas Blanchette was prohibited from owning firearms due to a felony conviction in 2010.

Blanchette pleaded guilty on June 9, 2021. Amy Blanchette and Christopher Stearns also pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.

"Fentanyl traffickers are selling a deadly substance that has caused immeasurable harm to the citizens of New Hampshire," said U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. "When drug dealers are armed, the risk to the public is even greater. As this case demonstrates, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute the fentanyl dealers who peddle this dangerous substance in the Granite State."