New Bedford Repeat Gun and Drug Offender Sentenced to State Prison

District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn announced today that a repeat offender from New Bedford who was arrested in late 2013 with a loaded firearm while distributing heroin will serve 54 to 72 months in state prison.

Manuel J. Vasquez, 40, formerly of 494 Coggeshall Street, pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court Monday to possessing an illegal firearm-repeat offense, unlawful possession of ammunition-repeat offense and possession with intent to distribute heroin. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Cahillane, and the prison sentence was handed down by Judge Gary Nickerson.

The defendant was the target of a search warrant executed by members of the New Bedford Police Departmant on December 23 at the defendant’s Coggeshall Street apartment. Inside the apartment, detectives seized 14 grams of heroin, a loaded .22 caliber pistol, a starter pistol and various items used in the narcotics distribution trade.

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