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Two Time Fall River Cocaine Traffickers Sentenced to State Prison

Bristol County District Attorney’s Office

Thomas M. Quinn III

District Attorney


Press Release

July 6, 2016



Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced today that a 34-year-old Fall River man, arrested twice in less than three months for trafficking cocaine at the same Fall River  location, was sentenced today to serve three to five years in state prison.


Antwon Griffin pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to two indictments charging him with two counts of trafficking in excess of 18 grams of cocaine, and one count each of distributing cocaine and assault and battery on a police officer. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dan Walsh, and the sentence was handed down by Judge Robert Kane.


On July 30, 2014, while out on a probation warrant sweep, Fall River Police Officer Brett Kimball entered the Davol Street Station bar looking for someone with an outstanding warrant. Officer Kimball entered the bathroom and observed a drug transaction.  Kimball immediately identified himself as a police officer, at which point Mr. Griffin punched the officer in the face and attempted to flee from the bar.  After a brief struggle, the defendant was eventually subdued and is found with 3 bags of cocaine totaling approximately 19 grams on his person. The defendant also had $1,162 in cash on him. 


Then, on October 14, 2014, while out on bail, the Fall River Police Department’s Vice Unit obtained a search warrant for the defendant and his car. In the parking lot of the same  Davol Street Station bar, detectives observed a transaction between the defendant, who is in his car, and a buyer.  Police approached the vehicle, at which point the defendant fled from his car on foot.  The defendant threw away his jacket and a bag of crack cocaine while he is fleeing.  The defendant was eventually caught by the police after a brief foot chase.  In his jacket, police found additional bags of crack cocaine, weighing around  20 grams. 


“I am pleased with the sentence imposed by the court at our request. This defendant was repeatedly dealing drugs at the same location, and contributing to the ongoing drug addiction problem in our area. However, I was disappointed that the defendant was released from custody after the second drug trafficking arrest,” said District Attorney Quinn said. “Drug dealers who commit offenses while out on bail should be held in custody pending the outcome of their cases.”



Contact:

Gregg Miliote

Director of Communications

508-997-0711

774-292-9576—cell