Alleged New Bedford Fentanyl Dealer/Illegal Gun User Held as a Danger in Superior Court
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
July 12, 2018
A 47-year-old New Bedford man, who was arrested earlier this year for selling fentanyl and possessing illegal firearms while on probation for a prior drug distribution conviction, was detained as a dangerous person by Superior Court Judge Thomas McGuire last Friday.
Richard Campbell was the subject of a dangerousness hearing on July 2nd in Fall River Superior Court after being indicted in June on charges of Trafficking more than 10 grams of Fentanyl, possession of a Class B Drug, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, and Armed Career Criminal with two prior convictions.
After taking the matter under advisement for several days, Judge McGuire made his dangerousness finding, meaning the defendant will be held without bail during the pendency of the case. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jason Mohan.
During the dangerousness hearing, ADA Mohan told the court that New Bedford Police received information that the defendant was selling fentanyl out of his apartment at 314 Chancery Street. The police utilized a confidential informant who conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl from the defendant within fourteen days of his eventual arrest. Based on the controlled buy and other factors, New Bedford Police obtained a search warrant for the defendant and his apartment. Pre-search warrant surveillance on the defendant demonstrated that he was actively dealing narcotics. The defendant was followed around New Bedford, North Dartmouth and into Providence, Rhode Island where the detectives observed the defendant engage in narcotic-related activities. The defendant was followed from Providence to New Bedford, where he was stopped by the police. When the defendant was searched, a quantity of fentanyl was found on his person. The defendant was brought back to his apartment where officers discovered a total of 36.9 grams of fentanyl (combined with the fentanyl on his person when he was stopped), three suboxone strips and a half gram of cocaine, along with packaging materials and scales. The police also discovered a .25 caliber Beretta semi-automatic firearm and a box with 50 loose rounds of .25 caliber ammunition.
All information contained in this release was stated in open court and are only allegations at this point. All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.
“I am very pleased Judge McGuire found this defendant to be a danger to the community and held him without bail. In this case, he is accused of selling fentanyl and possessing a firearm. He clearly poses a danger to the community based on these factors,” District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III said. “This is the type of case in which a defendant who is charged with trafficking in narcotics, with a prior record, should be detained without bail instead of imposing an arbitrary cash bail that the defendant may or may not post.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell