New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today that a 31-year-old New Bedford drug and gun defendant was sentenced to serve up to five years in prison Tuesday in Fall River Superior Court.
Carl Pina, formerly of 88 Linden Street, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of possessing an illegal firearm with one prior serious drug offense, unlawful possession of ammunition with one prior serious drug offense and trafficking in excess of 36 grams of cocaine.
The investigation was conducted by Detective Lavar Gilbert of the New Bedford Police Department’s Vice and Intelligence Unit.
Mr. Pina submitted an “unagreed plea” before Judge Gregg J. Pasquale. Assistant District Attorney Aaron Strojny argued for a 3.5 to 5 year state prison sentenced with two years of probation, while Mr. Pina’s defense requested a 3.5 years prison sentence.
Judge Pasquale accepted the commonwealth’s recommendation and sentenced Mr. Pina to serve 3.5 years to 5 years in state prison, to be followed by two years of supervised probation upon his release from prison.
