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A 36-year-old New Bedford drug trafficker who was using illegal firearms to protect his illicit business was sentenced to serve seven to 10 years in state prison last week, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Marcos Rohena-Lopez pleaded guilty in Fall Rver Superior Court on July 12th to indictments charging him with trafficking in heroin, trafficking in cocaine, possession of a firearm without an FID Card, possession of ammunition without an FID card and possession with intent to distribute a class B drug.
This case is the result of a narcotics investigation in the City of New Bedford where the defendant and his residence were the target of a search warrant executed on January 13, 2016 at approximately 5 pm. The defendant was operating a drug delivery service that specialized in heroin, cocaine and marijuana.
At the time of the search warrant execution by New Bedford Police, the defendant had left the target residence and was followed and stopped in his car some distance away. He was then returned to the 2nd floor apartment where the search commenced. Narcotics investigators seized more than $30,000 worth of drugs, nearly $2,000 in cash and an illegal handgun.
Items Seized:
• 237 grams of Heroin (estimated street value $23,700);
• 157 grams of Cocaine (estimated street value 6k);
• 12 oxycodone tablets ($360);
• .45 caliber semi-automatic Handgun and 12 rounds of .45 caliber Ammo;
• 90 grams marijuana (estimated street value $200);
• $1,784 in cash, digital scales and packaging items.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Powderly and the state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Thomas McGuire.
“This defendant was in possession of large amounts of narcotics which contribute to the ongoing drug problem in our communities. A substantial prison sentence was warranted,” District Attorney Quinn said.
