John Barber, Fentanyl Trafficking, New Hampshire 2022
CONCORD, New Hampshire - A Manchester man was sentenced in federal court for drug trafficking offenses, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.
John Barber, 32, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Samantha Elliott to 60 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release. The defendant was ordered to forfeit approximately $3,000.
The charges against Barber stem from a New Hampshire State Trooper stopping a car on Interstate 93 for a traffic violation on February 23, 2022. The defendant was a passenger in the car. After the driver gave consent to search the car, law enforcement officers found numerous plastic baggies, a digital scale and a locked zipper pouch in the vicinity of the defendant. The pouch was later searched pursuant to a warrant and contained roughly 45 grams of methamphetamine and 130 grams of fentanyl. The defendant had $2,000 in his pocket and over $1,000 in his wallet. The defendant admitted that he intended to distribute the pouch of drugs to someone else.
On August 23, 2022, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant of a camper belonging to the defendant in Manchester and found approximately 75 grams of methamphetamine in a plastic bag containing other smaller baggies, in the defendant’s bedroom. The defendant admitted the methamphetamine was his. The method of packaging and quantity of methamphetamine is indicative of distribution.
The charging statute provides a sentence of no greater than 20 years in prison, at least three (3) years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the Manchester Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Gingrande and Matthew Hunter are prosecuting the case.
The defendant, John Barber, is now facing the consequences of his actions, and a significant portion of his ill-gotten proceeds has been forfeited. This sentence not only puts a stop to the defendant’s plans to traffic these dangerous substances but also sends a strong message to those who would engage in similar activities.
Barber’s case serves as a reminder of the severe consequences that individuals face when they choose to engage in drug trafficking. The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work tirelessly to disrupt and dismantle these operations, bringing those responsible to justice and keeping our communities safer.
Key Facts
- State: New Hampshire
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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