Fall River man sentenced to prison for drug trafficking, assaulting and repeatedly slashing girlfriend

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 39-year-old Fall River man pled guilty yesterday in the Fall River Superior Court to Trafficking Cocaine over 36 grams from November 2022 and a domestic assault and stabbing causing serious bodily injury from June 2023.

Trajaun Albert was sentenced by the Honorable Thomas Perrino to a State Prison sentence of 10 to 12 years. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Daniel Walsh and Nicole Cheney.  

On November 21, 2022, Fall River Police conducted surveillance in the area of Choate Street when they observed Albert.  As Officers attempted to approach him, he ran off and threw an item over a chain link fence into the yard of 81 Bedford Street.  The defendant was subsequently detained and was found in possession of a knife and bag of cocaine.  Fall River police located and seized multiple bags of crack cocaine that Albert had thrown over the fence.  He also possessed $1,273 in cash in his wallet. 

On June 2, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Fall River police responded to 41 Webster Street.  The victim indicated to police that Albert, who she was in a dating relationship with, had come home intoxicated and accused her of cheating on him.  When the victim exited the apartment building, the defendant followed her and dragged her by her hair back into the apartment.  A neighbor, who was outside at the time, contacted the police.  Albert fled the scene on foot and could not be located by police at that time.

On June 16, 2023, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Fall River police responded to 41 Webster Street.  Upon arrival, the police met with the victim who was visibly upset and her face and chest were covered in blood.  The victim indicated that Albert appeared at her apartment that morning unannounced and indicated he wanted to retrieve his belongings.  When the victim allowed the defendant to enter the apartment, he followed her into the bedroom and pushed her onto the bed.  The victim indicated that he pulled out a black firearm from his waistband along with a pocketknife.  Albert held the blade of the knife under her right eye and stated, “I am going to take your eyes out and then turn myself in.”  The defendant then cut her face several times, causing the victim to bleed throughout the apartment.  The victim attempted to fight Albert off and he eventually fled the apartment through the back door.  The victim ran to a neighbor’s house for assistance.  Police observed blood on the victim, her clothing, on bedding, floors, and walls of the apartment. Police located a knife directly outside of the back door, next to storage bins that contained the defendant’s belongings, and his Massachusetts ID. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the firearm.  While officers were on scene, Albert turned himself into the Fall River Police Department.  He was wearing clothes with visible blood stains.  The victim was transported for medical treatment of her multiple lacerations along with a broken nose. 

Albert has prior narcotics, firearms and assaultive offenses and has served Federal and State Prison time. 

“The defendant is a career criminal who simply needs to be kept off the street for a long time to protect the victim and the public,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.