A former Kingston, N.H., man was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his role in the fentanyl death of a 31-year-old Atkinson man.
Kenneth Chapman, 62, who previously pleaded guilty, will also be on supervised release for three years after serving his sentence, according to Acting New Hampshire U.S. Attorney John J. Farley. Chapman sold fentanyl June 12, 2016 to the Atkinson man, identified only as “M.S.,” according to documents filed in United States District Court and statements during sentencing.
“Fentanyl continues to be the cause of far too many deaths in the Granite State,” said Farley. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who sell this deadly drug. The law enforcement cooperation after this overdose death demonstrates our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal level to identify those who distribute deadly doses of drugs. While we support access to treatment for those who suffer from addiction, those who distribute these deadly drugs need to be held accountable for the substantial damage they are causing in our community.”
Responding to a 911 call the day after the drug sale, emergency personnel found M.S. dead from a suspected drug overdose. Law enforcement officers found a tied-off plastic bag containing a white powdery substance later determined to be fentanyl near the body.
The case was investigated by U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from Kingston and Atkinson Police Departments. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Cole Davis.