New Bedford Fentanyl Trafficker Convicted at Trial and Imprisoned
Bristol County District Attorney’s Office
Thomas M. Quinn III
District Attorney
Press Release
October 25, 2023
A 27-year-old Providence, RI man arrested in New Bedford in early 2021 with thousands of dollars worth of fentanyl and cocaine was convicted by a jury of his peers last week of narcotics trafficking charges, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.
Yamil Velazquez-Acevedo, after a two-day trial in Fall River Superior Court, was convicted of Trafficking Fentanyl and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine. He was immediately sentenced by Judge Thomas McGuire to serve five to seven years in state prison. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gillian Kirsch.
On January 5, 2021, New Bedford Police narcotics detectives observed this defendant pick up a male pedestrian, drive around the block, and drop off that pedestrian in the same location. Police stopped the car and the defendant was identified as the operator of the vehicle. In the front seat, police observed $960 in cash scattered in the front seat area of the car. In one cup holder, police located a knotted corner bag with pills. In the other cup holder, police located a diet coke can which they quickly realized was manipulated and was being used as a drug hide. Inside the hide, police located four bags of cocaine weighing 3.64 grams and 31 bags of fentanyl weighing 37 grams. After advising the defendant of his Miranda rights, the defendant stated that he had just met with a male who gave him the soda can and told him he would call him in 20 minutes with a drop off location and that he was being paid $150 to deliver the can. The pills turned out to be pressed fentanyl pills.
“I am pleased the jury held the defendant accountable for delivering thousands of dollars worth of fentanyl, which is causing many people misery, suffering and senseless deaths,” District Attorney Quinn said.
Contact:
Gregg Miliote
Director of Communications
774-292-9576