Bristol County man sentenced in Fall River for trafficking fentanyl, arrested in Rhode Island while out on bail

A 45-year-old Taunton fentanyl trafficker was sentenced to state prison last week in Fall River Superior Court, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Adrian Montalvo pled guilty to two indictments charging him with Trafficking Fentanyl and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Drug. He was sentenced to serve four years.

On January 3, 2017, Montalvo was driving in Taunton when a Massachusetts State Police Trooper stopped his vehicle for failing to signal while turning. While speaking with Montalvo, the trooper noticed a burning marijuana cigarette in the car and asked Montalvo if he had anything else on him. Montalvo said he had “a finger of heroin” and then ran. The trooper was able to catch up with him about 40 yards away and apprehended him. He was found to be in possession of more than 20 grams of fentanyl and more than $1,400 in cash.

The DA stated that while out on bail in this case, Montalvo was arrested in Pawtucket, RI for fentanyl trafficking and illegal firearm crimes. He was eventually indicted federally and was recently sentenced in that case to no less than 10 years in federal prison. The four-year sentence imposed by Judge Valerie Yarashus in this Bristol County case will run concurrent to the federal prison term.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Shawn Guilderson.