Harrison Thorp 1:34 p.m.
Friday, December 21, 2018 1:31 pm
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CONCORD - Some 15 individuals from the Rochester area including the Farmington man whose home was the scene of the grisly 2017 murders of two local women have been arrested on federal drug trafficking and firearm offenses, a U.S. Attorney announced today.
The arrests are the culmination of a yearlong investigation into drug trafficking in and around the Rochester, Farmington, Somersworth, and Dover area by the Drug Enforcement Administration in coordination with federal, state and local authorities in New Hampshire and Maine.
Among those arrested were Dean Smoronk, of 979 Meaderboro Road, Farmington, where his girlfriend, Christine Sullivan, 48, along with Jenna Pellegrini, 32, of Barrington, were both brutally stabbed to death on Jan. 27, 2017.
It was Smoronk who called police to report his longtime girlfriend Christine Sullivan, 48, along with Jenna Pellegrini, were missing from his Meaderboro Road home upon his return from Florida on Jan. 28. The women's bodies were found beneath a pile or rubble later in the day. Smoronk has never been implicated in the killings, however he does have a record of drug involvement, including an arrest in South Carolina with his now-deceased girlfriend in 2014 and in June 2017 when he was arrested on Interstate 95 in Virginia for drug possession with two other people.
Smoronk had reportedly returned to the area earlier this year after completing a Virginia prison stay at Pamunkey Regional Jail.
Smoronk was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm as part of the sweep.
Awaiting trial in the deaths of Pellegrini and Sullivan is Timothy Verrill of Dover. His trial is set to begin next spring.
Meanwhile, another of those arrested this month was Randy Stevens, 28, of 979 Meaderboro Road, which is Smoronk's residence. Stevens was charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
Others who were arrested and charged are as follows:
- Thomas Blanchette, 42, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Christopher Stearns, 46, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Amy Patch, 37, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Nicholas Barton, 34, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Kyle Forest, 25, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Derek Rand, 30, Farmington - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, fentanyl;
- Sasha Rand, 33, Farmington - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl;
- James Nesbitt, 42, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, fentanyl and methamphetamine;
- Haley Hansler, 32, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine;
- William McKay, 45, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine;
- Angel Wilson, 33, Rochester - possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute;
- Stephanie Joy, 42, Rochester - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl;
- Joshua George, 37, Somersworth - conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, and to distribute, fentanyl; and
Most of the defendants were arrested on Thursday and appeared in court that day. Joshua George first appeared in federal court on November 9, 2018.
"This coordinated sweep serves notice once again of law enforcement's determination to disrupt the sale of fentanyl, methamphetamine and other dangerous drugs in New Hampshire" said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Murray. "Drug trafficking has caused grave damage in Strafford County and throughout our state. Accordingly, we will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners to arrest and prosecute those responsible. In order to keep the public safe from violent crime, we will also aggressively target those who unlawfully possess firearms. These prosecutions are an example of how federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies can work together to keep the Granite State safe."
"The arrests today reflect DEA's strong commitment to bring to justice those who distribute these dangerous drugs to our citizens," said DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle. "As we all know, drug trafficking, along with the gun and physical violence that often accompanies it, ravages the very foundation of our families and communities. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners."
"The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, along with our federal and state law enforcement partners, are committed to providing the resources necessary to combat drug trafficking in our communities," said U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Inspector in Charge, Joseph W. Cronin of the Boston Division. "These arrests should send a clear message that drugs, firearms, and violence will not be tolerated. Fentanyl, and other highly addictive drugs, are destroying families across the country. U.S. Postal Inspection Service will continue to work diligently to rid the U.S. Mail of illegal drugs and their proceeds."
This investigation was the product of an investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations.
These cases were investigated by the DEA's Tactical Diversion Squad; the New Hampshire State Police; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the United States Marshals Service; the Strafford County Drug Task Force; the Maine State Police; and the Dover (NH) Police Department. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Cole Davis and Anna Dronzek.
The charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.