Andover Fentanyl Dealer Pleads Guilty

ANDOVER, MA — A man who was arrested last year outside his Andover residence pleaded guilty Tuesday to selling "fingers" of fentanyl, Acting US Attorney John J. Farley announced. Rolando Sierra-Oyola, 30, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute, and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Sierra-Oyola sold "fingers," which are 10-gram quantities, of fentanyl multiple times in 2015 and 2016. His buyers were working with law enforcement and traveled from New Hampshire to purchase the drug. Sierra-Oyola sometimes sold the drugs through "runners."

Sierra-Oyola was arrested on July 22, 2016, outside his Andover residence. A search of the residence yielded more fentanyl.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 12, 2017.

"The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute individuals who are distributing fentanyl," said Farley. "This deadly drug is largely responsible for the substantial number of overdose deaths in the Granite State. Members of the law enforcement community will continue to work together to stop the flow of this drug into New Hampshire."

"Opioid abuse is at epidemic levels across New England and those suffering from opioid addiction need access to treatment and recovery," said Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Ferguson. "But those responsible for distributing a lethal drug like fentanyl to the citizens of New Hampshire need to be held accountable for their actions. DEA is committed to aggressively pursue drug trafficking organizations or individuals who are coming from out of state to distribute this poison in order to profit and destroy people’s lives. This investigation demonstrates the strength and continued commitment of our local, state and federal partners and our strong partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office."

The Drug Enforcement Administration led the case with assistance from New Hampshire State Police and from police in Portsmouth and Exeter, as well as Massachusetts departments Andover, Lawrence, and Wilmington.