New HampshireDepartment of JusticeOffice of the Attorney General

News Release

For Immediate Release
January 31, 2018

Contact:
Danielle Sakowski, Assistant Attorney General
(603) 271-3671
Benjamin J. Agati, Senior Assistant Attorney General

State v. Andrew Garland – Plea of Guilty to Death Resulting

New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald, Tuftonboro Police Chief Andrew Shagoury, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jon C. DeLena of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration - Manchester District Office, and Colonel Christopher J. Wagner of the New Hampshire State Police announce that Andrew Garland, age 22, of Effingham, pleaded guilty today in Carroll County Superior Court to selling fentanyl that caused the death of Joshua Fournier, age 22, of Tuftonboro.

Mr. Garland was sentenced to 12-24 years in the New Hampshire State Prison. However, 3 years of the minimum sentence was suspended, and Mr. Garland may earn an additional 1 1/2 years off of the minimum if he successfully completes the FOCUS drug program while incarcerated. He was also sentenced to additional consecutive suspended prison sentences for other drug crimes.

On Thursday, September 29, 2016, Mr. Fournier contacted Melissa Ford, age 28, via text message regarding the purchase of heroin. Mr. Fournier picked up Ms. Ford and drove her to Effingham where she met with Mr. Garland and purchased approximately 1/2 gram of a heroin/fentanyl mixture that she then gave to Mr. Fournier. Joshua Fournier was found dead early in the morning of September 30, 2016. A subsequent investigation into Mr. Garland led to the sale of heroin/fentanyl by Mr. Garland to a confidential informant, and a search warrant executed at Mr. Garland's apartment on October 3, 2016 yielded approximately 66 grams of a heroin/fentanyl drug. Ms. Ford previously pleaded guilty to a death resulting charge in July of 2017 for her involvement in the death of Mr. Fournier.

This successful investigation and prosecution was the result of a joint investigation and collaboration by the Tuftonboro Police Department, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New Hampshire State Police with the assistance of the New Hampshire Department of Justice's Drug Prosecution Unit.

New Hampshire Department of Justice
1 Granite Place South | Concord, NH | 03301
Telephone: 603-271-3658