Goffstown Dealer Gets 4+ Years for Fentanyl

Goffstown resident Zachary Janas, 40, is headed to federal prison for 55 months after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Joseph N. Laplante, sends a clear message: dealing poison in New Hampshire comes with serious consequences. Janas won’t just serve time; he’ll face three years of supervised release after getting out, a constant reminder of his crimes.

The case peeled back a layer of the fentanyl crisis gripping the state. Federal prosecutors are cracking down hard on anyone involved in moving this deadly drug, whether they’re lone operators or part of a larger network. U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young made it clear this isn’t about soft sentences; it’s about holding traffickers accountable for the devastation they cause.

The investigation, a joint effort by the FBI’s Major Offender Task Force, the New Hampshire State Police Narcotics Investigations Unit, and the Goffstown Police Department, began to unfold last September. Undercover agents purchased half a kilogram of fentanyl directly from Janas at his Goffstown home on September 21, 2021, setting the stage for a raid.

When authorities executed a search warrant at Janas’ residence, they didn’t just find fentanyl. They seized a substantial amount of cash, multiple firearms, and ammunition – the tools of a dangerous trade. The feds are treating this not as a simple drug bust, but as a dismantling of a criminal operation built on profiting from addiction and death.

“Fentanyl is an insidious drug that has destroyed countless lives in New Hampshire,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. The FBI, along with its partners, is committed to relentlessly pursuing and removing individuals like Janas who actively contribute to the opioid epidemic and endanger communities.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer C. Davis prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on the evidence gathered by the investigative team. This conviction, and the lengthy sentence, serves as a warning to others: the risks of trafficking fentanyl far outweigh any potential profit. The feds are vowing to continue their aggressive efforts to stem the flow of this lethal drug into New Hampshire.

The investigation isn’t just about one man. It’s a signal that federal authorities are intensifying their focus on disrupting the entire fentanyl supply chain. They’re targeting not just street-level dealers, but the sources and facilitators who enable the trafficking operation. Expect more arrests and convictions as the feds ramp up pressure.

This case underscores the deadly reality of the opioid crisis and the collaborative effort required to combat it. Law enforcement agencies are working tirelessly to protect communities from the devastating consequences of fentanyl trafficking, but they need the public’s help. If you have information about drug trafficking activity, report it to the authorities.