Bristol County man with extensive criminal history sentenced in Fall River after dumping drugs on Route 24, Route 495, in chase with Massachusetts State Police

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III has announced that a 51-year-old man pled guilty and was sentenced Tuesday in the Fall River Superior Court. 

Leonard Vargus of Taunton, MA was sentenced to serve eight to ten years in the State Prison, to begin after his current prison sentence of three to four years for an unrelated Suffolk County case, for Possession with intent to Distribute various substances: fentanyl, flurofentanyl, methamphetamine and Cocaine and Assault and Battery by means of a Dangerous Weapon.  Vargus was sentenced to a concurrent sentence of four to five years in the State Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Leaving the Scene of Property Damage and two years concurrent to the House of Correction for Reckless Operation of a Motor Vehicle. 

On April 14, 2023, a Massachusetts State Trooper conducted a motor vehicle stop on Route 138 in Raynham for a license plate violation.  Vargus was the operator of the motor vehicle along with a female passenger.  The Trooper observed the female passenger make a furtive movement towards the center console and she was ordered to exit the vehicle.  As the female was escorted towards the cruiser, Vargus fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed.  The Trooper pursued as he drove in excess of 90 miles per hour and drove down the center line of the roadway forcing other motorists off the road to avoid a collision.  As the defendant entered Route 495, he began tossing plastic bags out of the vehicle.  Vargus also emptied several bags of drugs out of his sunroof.  The thrown narcotics hit the cruiser that was driving directly behind him.  When Vargus reached Route 24, he struck another vehicle while illegally passing vehicles and failed to stop.  The defendant continued throwing plastic baggies out of his vehicle on Route 24 and drove directly at another Trooper who had deployed a spike strip causing the Trooper to dive out of the way to avoid being struck.  Vargus continued to drive for several miles after his tires had been popped.  The initial Trooper, whose cruiser was struck by the narcotics that were dumped out of the defendant’s sunroof, radioed for EMS as he began to feel ill.  This same Trooper collapsed as he was approaching the defendant’s stopped vehicle.  Other Troopers on scene revived the stricken Trooper with doses of Narcan and he was transported to the hospital where he recovered. 

Several of the plastic bags discarded by the defendant were located and seized by the State Police and submitted to the State Crime Lab.  The substances tested positive for fentanyl, flurofentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine. 

The defendant has a lengthy record of assaultive and narcotics offenses.  At the time of this case, Vargus was out on bail for a pending Suffolk Superior Court drug case.  The defendant plead to that narcotics case in 2024 and received a State Prison sentence of three to four years. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jason Mohan and Catherine Sauter.

 The defendant engaged in reckless and lawless conduct with a total disregard for the lives and safety of innocent people while tossing drugs onto the highway. He has a significant criminal history and simply needs to be kept off the street to protect society,” District Attorney Tom Quinn said.