Franklin resident indicted on drug trafficking charges

FRANKLIN — A local resident accused of drug trafficking and sales was indicted 13 times by a Merrimack County Grand Jury, Attorney General John Formella and Col. Mark Hall of the New Hampshire State Police said in a recent news release.

Michael Brownell is charged with five counts of selling more than 5 grams of fentanyl, one count of possession of more than 5 grams of fentanyl with intent to sell, and one count of possession of more than 5 ounces of methamphetamine with intent to sell. 

All charges are subsequent offenses and special felonies, each punishable by up to life in prison, a $500,000 fine, or both. 

An indictment is not an indication of guilt. Rather, it is a finding by a Grand Jury that enough evidence of an alleged crime exists to warrant bringing a case to trial.

Brownell is also charged with two counts of selling more than 1 ounce of methamphetamine, subsequent offenses, each charge punishable by 20 to 40 years in prison, a $500,000 fine, or both. He also faces two counts of selling less than 1 ounce of methamphetamine, subsequent offenses, each punishable by up to 7.5 to 15 years in prison, a $200,000 fine, or both.

Brownell is further charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon, punishable by up to 3.5 to seven years in prison, a $4,000 fine, or both.