United States of America v. Joseph Laplante

Concord, New Hampshire distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person criminal defense lawyer.

Convicted Felon Sentenced to 100 Months in Federal Prison in Connection with Trafficking a Kilogram of Fentanyl, a Kilogram of Cocaine, and a Firearm

On June 25, 2024, Joseph Rosario pleaded guilty to one count each of distribution of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.



"The defendant, a convicted felon, was undeterred from committing new crimes by a prior imprisonment, instead he trafficked deadly drugs and an assault rifle with an obliterated serial number” said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. "Today's lengthy sentence should serve as a notice to repeat offenders that law enforcement will be relentless in taking drugs, guns and criminals off the streets.”



"Guns and drugs take far too many lives in our communities, and Victor Rosario was contributing to the devastating impact of both here in New Hampshire,” said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Today's sentence holds this convicted felon who was prohibited from possessing firearms accountable for selling an AK-47 with an obliterated serial number, along with deadly fentanyl to a confidential informant. While Mr. Rosario is sitting behind bars, the FBI will continue to work with our partners to remove dangerous criminals like him from our streets.”



Between December 2023 and January 2024, Rosario sold fentanyl to a confidential informant on four occasions. On the fourth occasion, Rosario also sold the confidential informant an AK-style rifle with an obliterated serial number. Authorities executed search warrants on Rosario's home, vehicle, and person, and recovered additional cocaine and fentanyl. In total, Rosario possessed and/or distributed over a kilogram each of cocaine and fentanyl. Rosario was on federal supervised release at the time of his offense.



The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Major Offender Task Force and the Manchester Police Anti-Crime Unit led the investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the New Hampshire State Police Narcotics Investigations Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kasey Weiland and Matthew Hunter are prosecuting the case.