A Mass and Cass drug supplier who had a “major presence” within the homeless space has been sentenced to 13 years in jail after being convicted on quite a few drug and gun expenses.
Lowell man Jay Candelario, 43, offered “deadly drugs for his own profit” within the Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard part of Boston, in response to the Suffolk District legal professional.
A choose on Thursday sentenced Candelario to eight years on the fees of: trafficking fentanyl, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of suboxone with intent to distribute, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a high-capacity journal. Candelario can be going through a further 5 years for possession of a firearm whereas in fee of a felony.
“Mr. Candelario was a major presence at Mass and Cass when the area was at its peak population point,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden mentioned. “Our focus has always been on the opportunists like him who saw only one thing amid the vast hardship at Mass and Cass — the ability to make money.”
On Feb. 13, 2021, Boston cops arrested Candelario after they noticed him promote medicine within the consolation space arrange by the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, subsequent to the Southampton Street Shelter.
During the arrest, officers seized a .40-caliber Taurus pistol with a large-capacity journal, 111 grams of fentanyl, six grams of cocaine, 42 grams of suboxone, greater than $3,500 in money, drug packaging supplies and scales.
The Taurus firearm was personalized with artwork that includes the Grim Reaper.
“This man used space set up by a caring organization to keep people warm on cold winter days in order to sell those same susceptible people deadly drugs for his own profit,” Hayden mentioned.
“This was an impact drug dealer in Mass and Cass who came from outside of Boston to prey upon the vulnerable people in the area,” the DA added. “I thank the jury and judge for making sure this man is held accountable for the many harms he has inflicted.”
Hayden’s workplace final 12 months launched Services Over Sentences, a program funded with $400,000 from the workplace’s asset forfeiture account to assist lower-level offenders within the Mass and Cass space obtain help to depart the realm. The SOS program obtained a further $1 million in funding from the Massachusetts Legislature this 12 months.
Hayden mentioned his workplace’s method has been to focus on affect criminals within the space — drug sellers, human traffickers, violent offenders and others — whereas providing providers or diversion packages to qualifying lower-level offenders.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”