Two men from Massachusetts were arraigned Monday on drug possession and trafficking charges after being found with 160 bags of heroin, 212 grams of marijuana, and a handgun, according to state police.
Judge Mary Morrissey set the bail for the Springfield residents, 26-year-old Eric Vasquez and 23-year-old Alex Rodriguez, at $10,000 and $25,000, respectively.
Police were alerted to the men’s alleged activity by a confidential informant who had seen them at a Barre residence with “a large amount of heroin.” The informant said customers would go to the residence and deal with Vasquez to purchase the heroin, according to an affidavit.
The informant noted that Vasquez was being assisted with the deals by a man called “Roach,” later identified as Rodriguez.
On Saturday, police executed a search warrant for the Barre residence at 47 Park St. Upon entry, they found two men running down the stairs toward the back exit, according to the affidavit. Barre police were able to apprehend the men outside.
One officer noticed that during the short chase, an object was thrown out the window of the residence. When the officer went to look for the object outside the house, he found a package containing 160 bags (3.8 grams) of what was later confirmed as heroin, stamped with the words “Dunkin Donuts.” Police noted that it’s common to find heroin packets stamped with a word or slogan of that nature.
Police reported that both men were arrested “without incident.”
Vasquez has a criminal history in Vermont for heroin trafficking. After he was released from jail on a previous charge, he failed to report to the Department of Corrections for 10 months, in violation of his parole. His public defender Monday said he recognized that “put him in a bit of a pickle” when it came to arguing for more lenient terms of release.
Judge Mary Morrisey ruled that the strict conditions of their release were necessary, as neither man has significant ties to the state. Rodriguez, however, said his mom would be willing to come to Vermont in order to supervise him until his court date. Morrissey said if she can later determine that to be true, she’d be willing to reconsider his conditions.
For the felony charges of heroin trafficking and marijuana possession, the men could face up to 33 years in prison each, and fines of over $1 million.
