Ossipee Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Conspiracy

Jeffrey Lamarche, 39, of Ossipee, New Hampshire, admitted in federal court today to conspiring to possess and distribute fentanyl, a synthetic opioid fueling a deadly epidemic across the state. Lamarche stood silently before the judge, hands clasped, as he entered his guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute.

The arrest unfolded on May 24, 2016, when a New Hampshire State Trooper pulled over a vehicle on the Exit 4 ramp off Interstate 95. Lamarche was a passenger. After obtaining consent to search, the trooper discovered 44.6 grams of fentanyl and 5.8 grams of cocaine hidden on Lamarche’s person. That amount of fentanyl has the potential to kill hundreds, law enforcement officials say.

Court documents and statements during the hearing confirmed that Lamarche was not merely carrying drugs for personal use. The quantity, packaging, and presence of multiple substances point directly to distribution. Federal prosecutors argued the evidence left no doubt about his role in a broader drug network operating in eastern New Hampshire.

United States Attorney Emily Gray Rice did not mince words. “Fentanyl is responsible for the vast majority of overdose deaths in New Hampshire,” she said in a statement. “My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prosecute individuals who are responsible for distributing this deadly drug.”

The case was investigated by the New Hampshire State Police, a force increasingly stretched thin battling the opioid crisis. Assistant United States Attorney Georgiana L. Konesky is leading the prosecution, building a track record of securing convictions in high-impact drug cases.

Lamarche faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on May 31, 2017, in Concord, New Hampshire. He remains in custody pending that date, with no bond issued due to the severity of the charges and public safety concerns.