$130.000 drug operation lands Rochester man 11-year prison sentence

CONCORD - A Rochester man has been sentenced today for his role in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Hampshire.

Bradford Sargent, 42, will spend 11 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorneys Office released on Thursday.

Sargent pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances on March 28. His co-defendant, Jennelle Brown, was sentenced to five years in federal prison in May.

"The defendant and his co-defendant were significant fentanyl and methamphetamine dealers in the Seacoast," said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. "Law enforcement in the Granite State will continue their concerted efforts to disrupt conspiracies to distribute vast quantities of these dangerous drugs."

"Today's sentence holds Bradford Sargent accountable for trafficking significant amounts of deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine in New Hampshire, and perpetuating the destructive cycle of drug addiction," said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to identify and disrupt other large-scale drug traffickers like him who are intent on flooding our communities with their poison."

Sargent and Brown, sold drugs multiple times from their hotel room in Portsmouth, according to the Thursday press release. When law enforcement searched their room, they uncovered large quantities of money, drugs, and drug ledgers. Searches of two vehicles, storage units, and safety deposit boxes uncovered more currency and drugs. In total, law enforcement seized drugs worth more than $130,000, approximately 1.3 kilograms of fentanyl, 650 grams of methamphetamine, and cocaine.

The FBI and the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the DEA and Strafford County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexander S. Chen and Jarad E. Hodes prosecuted the case.