Penacook Man Pleads Guilty to Drug Dealing, Gun Charges

CONCORD, NH — A local man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court on May 12, 2017, on drug dealing and other charges, according to Acting-U.S. Attorney John Farley. Bryan Franklin, 41, of Penacook, pleaded guilty to possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to a press statement. Back in September 2016, in Tilton, police conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle being driven by Franklin that contained multiple needles, cut plastic baggies, and other items associated with drug use.

A search of another vehicle owned by Franklin led to a lock box containing $15,958 cash, approximately 750 grams of fentanyl, assorted prescription pills, a quantity of methamphetamine, a thumb drive, and two digital scales, Farley noted. A backpack in the vehicle contained a tin box with an additional quantity of fentanyl, a drug ledger, and a loaded semi-automatic handgun that had been reported to law enforcement as stolen.

“The aggressive investigation and prosecution of individuals engaged in fentanyl trafficking in New Hampshire remains a top priority of the United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal level,” Farley said. “As New Hampshire continues to face an unprecedented number of overdose deaths directly caused by opioid use, we will continue to work tirelessly to prosecute those who are responsible for distributing these dangerous drugs in our state. Most drug deaths in New Hampshire are associated with fentanyl use. The quick-thinking law enforcement officers who seized this large quantity of fentanyl and prevented it from being distributed may have saved several lives.”

Franklin faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail and a mandatory minimum of five years on the firearm charge. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 23.

According to a post on Patch, Franklin was also indicted recently two counts of possession of a narcotic drug-Oxycodone, fentanyl, and possession of a controlled drug-marijuana, after a traffic stop last year in Hooksett.

A photo from September 2016 of the drug bust.