CONCORD – Quentin Simon, a/k/a “Q”, 37, of Manchester, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in federal court to possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Acting United States Attorney John J. Farley announced today.

            According to court documents and statements made in court, in May of 2020, a cooperating individual told Manchester police detectives that Simon was selling crack, fentanyl and pills out of his apartment.  After completing a series of controlled buys between the cooperator and Simon between May 5 and August 12, 2020, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Simon and search warrant for his apartment.

On August 18, 2020, detectives arrested Simon and executed the search warrant.  Throughout the apartment, detectives located items indicative of drug distribution and controlled substances.  Cash totaling $79,848 was also located.  Lab analysis confirmed the drugs totaled over 1,168 grams of cocaine and over 115 grams of crack cocaine.  A .380 caliber handgun and ammunition were in proximity to a large container of cocaine.

Simon is scheduled to be sentenced on March 14, 2022.   The cash, gun, and a large collection of sneakers were all seized and forfeited as a result of this prosecution.

“Armed drug traffickers present a serious threat to public safety in our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Farley.  “As part of our continued partnership with the Manchester Police Department, we are working to identify and prosecute the armed drug dealers who endanger the citizens of Manchester.  By prosecuting these dangerous individuals, we will reduce the risk of violent crime in the Granite State.”

This matter was investigated by the Manchester Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joachim H. Barth.  Forfeiture aspects of this case were handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Rabuck.

This case is part of Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge (S.O.S.).  In July of 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced the creation of S.O.S., which is being implemented in the District of New Hampshire and nine other federal districts.  The goal of S.O.S. is to combat the large number of overdoses and deaths associated with fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.   In New Hampshire, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is focusing its efforts on prosecuting synthetic opioid trafficking cases arising in Hillsborough County, which includes Manchester and Nashua.