CONCORD - William McKnight, 48, of Litchfield, pleaded guilty in federal court to distributing fentanyl, United States Attorney Scott W. Murray announced today.
According to court documents and statements made in court, from November 7, 2018 to Nov. 19, 2018, members the Nashua Police Department Problem Oriented Policing Unit working in conjunction with members of the Nashua Police Department Narcotics Intelligence Division investigated McKnight for distributing fentanyl in Nashua. They arranged for a cooperating individual to purchase fentanyl from McKnight on three occasions.
On Jan. 16, 2019, Nashua Police Department searched McKnight’s apartment and found drug paraphernalia, including a scale, needles, plastic bags and cotton swabs.
McKnight is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 10, 2019.
“The trafficking of fentanyl has had a devastating impact throughout New Hampshire," said U.S. Attorney Murray. “Nashua is located in close proximity to the regional distribution center for this dangerous drug and along with other Hillsborough County communities, has been especially hard hit. Through Operation S.O.S., we are working with Nashua Police to send a message to fentanyl dealers that their dangerous and illegal activities will not be tolerated in New Hampshire."
This matter was investigated by the Nashua Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim Barth.
This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.). In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts. 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.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
