Rochester man gets six years for armed trafficking of cocaine, meth, fentanyl

William Hallinan (Sanford, Maine, Police photo)

CONCORD - A Rochester, was sentenced on Thursday to 72 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, the U.S. Attorneys Office announced.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on Feb. 2, 2020, a traffic stop of the vehicle William Hallinan, 36, was driving and a subsequent search of his vehicle conducted by Somersworth Police yielded a baggie of methamphetamine, a loaded 9 mm handgun, a digital scale, and multiple unused baggies. Hallinan was also carrying roughly $900 in cash in his pocket. In a post-arrest interview, Hallinan admitted to selling drugs, and explained he carried the firearm to protect his money.

On Sept. 14, 2020, Strafford County Sheriff's deputies conducted another motor vehicle stop of Hallinan, and during a pat check found a sheathed knife on his person, a switch blade, $1,131 in cash, 5.4 grams of crack cocaine, and a handgun. A subsequent search of his vehicle resulted in seizure of roughly 100 grams of fentanyl, 27.5 grams of methamphetamine, 24.5 grams of cocaine, a .45 caliber handgun, and $12,371 in cash. A search of Hallinan's telephone revealed exchanges showing he conspired with his source of supply to purchase narcotics for distribution. Texts in his phone confirmed he was dealing drugs from February to September of 2020.

In June 2021 Hallinan was arrested in a Sanford, Maine, motel shooting that left a woman injured.

The arrest was made in Rochester on a complaint for alleged reckless conduct with a dangerous weapon in connection with the June 14 shooting of a 31-year-old female victim at the Quality Inn at 1892 Main St. in Sanford.

The Class C felony charge was due to Hallinan being a prohibited person who is not allowed to possess a firearm, police said.

Hallinan, formerly of 17 Norway Plains Road, was also arrested by Rochester Police on Aug. 3, 2019. Those charges included burglary, riot and simple assault.

The adjudication of the Sanford and Rochester charges were not immediately available at presstime.