Repeat New Bedford Opiate Trafficker Sentenced to A Decade in Prison
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
December 27, 2019
A 35-year-old New Bedford heroin and fentanyl trafficker will serve up to 11 years in state prison, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Ryan Cabral pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court last week to separate indictments charging him with trafficking fentanyl, trafficking heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, unlawful possession of a high capacity firearm, unlawful possession of an illegal firearm with one prior conviction and unlawful possession of ammunition with one prior conviction.
The defendant was the target of two separate warrants for the addresses of 36 Rodney Street and 31 Rodney Street on October 4, 2016 for heroin/fentanyl distribution. While executing the warrant at 36 Rodney Street, police found a .22 caliber pistol loaded with six rounds, and three large bags of heroin weighing 177 grams. Police also found scales, packaging materials, jacks with press stands to press the heroin into compact forms, letters of standing for the defendant, over $25,000 in cash, and several rounds of ammunition along with a high capacity magazine.
While his case was pending in Superior Court, the defendant was again arrested on April 19 of this year when New Bedford Police executed search warrants against the defendant for his two cars and his home at 76 Windsor Street. Police located one of the cars running outside of a barbershop with the defendant’s three young children inside it. The defendant, at the time, was inside the barbershop getting a haircut. In the running vehicle with the three children inside it, police found approximately 92 grams of fentanyl in the pocket of the front passenger side’s door within reach of the children. Another 21 grams of fentanyl was located during the search of the Windsor Street home, along with packaging materials, scales, cutting agents, and $6,916 in cash.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Matthew Sylvia and the seven to 11 year state prison sentence was imposed by Judge Thomas McGuire.
“This defendant has a history of drug dealing, and continued to sell fentanyl while he was out on release on his first case. His previous convictions clearly had no impact on him as he continued to sell fentanyl in the City of New Bedford,” District Attorney Quinn said. “Fentanyl has contributed to the significant increase in fatal overdoses over the last five-plus years. As of November 30th, there have been 194 fatal overdoses in Bristol County. A substantial prison sentence was warranted to protect the public.”
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
508-997-0711
774-292-9576–cell