Michael Messina, Fentanyl Distribution, New Hampshire 2019

Manchester Man Caught Red-Handed in Fentanyl Deal

MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE – A 34-year-old man was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for distributing fentanyl, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

Michael Messina, of Manchester, was caught engaging in a drug deal on June 4, 2019, by Manchester police detectives. The detectives observed Messina exchanging something with a customer, who then placed a small object down his pants. The two men separated, and detectives detained both Messina and the customer.

After a search of the area, detectives found a cellophane wrapper containing powder that later tested positive for fentanyl. Messina was approached, and he dropped the money and the fentanyl, leading detectives to his involvement in the deal.

‘Fentanyl traffickers endanger lives by selling an extremely deadly substance,’ said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley. ‘To protect the public, we are working with the Manchester Police Department to identify and prosecute the traffickers who are distributing fentanyl and other dangerous opioids in Manchester.’

This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.), which was announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in July 2018. The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.

Michael Messina, 34, of Manchester, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl on an undisclosed date. He was caught engaging in a drug deal on June 4, 2019, by Manchester police detectives. The crime occurred in Manchester, New Hampshire. The exact date of sentencing is unknown.

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