Rochester Man Sentenced to 84 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

CONCORD - A man distributing methamphetamine in Rochester was sentenced today in federal court to 7 years imprisonment, U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young announces.

Felix Urrutia, 51, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. Barbadoro to 84 months in prison and three years of supervised release. On May 28, 2024, Mr. Urrutia pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and four counts of distribution of methamphetamine. The defendant's co-conspirator, Haley Cahill, pled guilty on May 31, 2024. She is scheduled for sentencing on September 10, 2024.

"The defendant was a large-volume methamphetamine dealer in the Rochester area. His disregard for the welfare of others by pumping poison into the community was exacerbated by his possession of a firearm," said U.S. Attorney Jane E. Young. "Today's sentence sends a clear message to drug dealers that conduct like the defendant's will result in significant incarceration."

"Like other drug traffickers, Felix Urrutia had no regard for the harm he caused in his community," said Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division. "Getting dangerous drugs like methamphetamine off the street, and illegal firearms out of criminals' hands, is a step toward making New Hampshire safer. The FBI's Major Offender Task Force will continue to work on behalf of all the good, law-abiding folks who live here."

On four occasions between July and October 2023, Ms. Cahill supplied methamphetamine to Mr. Urrutia, who then sold the methamphetamine to a confidential source. The total amount of the methamphetamine sold by the defendant was approximately 238 grams. Investigators uncovered the conspiracy through surveillance of Ms. Cahill, who left her home and met with Mr. Urrutia prior to drug transactions between Mr. Urrutia and the confidential source. In November 2023, investigators executed a search warrant of Mr. Urrutia's motel room and recovered a firearm. Mr. Urrutia sold the methamphetamine from that motel room during the investigation.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Major Offender Task Force led the investigation. The Major Offender Task Force is comprised of federal agents partnered with law enforcement officers from police departments state-wide. Valuable assistance was provided by the Dover and Rochester Police Departments, the Strafford County Sheriff's Office, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather A. Cherniske prosecuted the case.

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