Article snippet: Before Vice President Mike Pence cancelled his planned visit to Manchester, N.H. to speak at an addiction treatment center earlier this month, one of the people he was likely to encounter was under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Agency for trafficking fentanyl from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, Politico reported Monday. That person, Jeff Hatch, agreed on Friday in federal court in New Hampshire to plead guilty to a charge in connection with the case and will face up to four years in prison, the website reported. Hatch, a former player in the National Football League who battled addiction himself, was terminated Monday from his job at Granite Recovery Centers, CEO Eric Spofford said in a statement to the Globe Monday night. Spofford said he was “shocked, disappointed, and heartbroken” to learn about Hatch, and said no one at GRC was aware of Hatch’s actions. “Granite Recovery Centers has over 200 of the most dedicated passionate people that go above and beyond to fight in the mission against addiction every single day,” Spofford said. “The actions of one do not discredit the amazing work they all do.” Spofford said he learned about the situation around 11 a.m. Monday, and fired Hatch immediately. Spofford called addiction insidious and said it affects people from all walks of life. “This situation highlights why those of us on the front lines need to remain vigilant and must battle every day against addiction and the opioid epidemic,” he said. On July 2,... Link to the full article to read more