Massachusetts man out on bail arrested on drug and gun charges after police find fentanyl, ammo, near child

A Massachusetts man has been arrested on drug and gun charges after being out on bail.

According to Dave Procopio of Massachusetts State Police, late last year Troopers assigned to the State Police Detective Unit for Suffolk County developed information that a suspect named Dmitri Benton, 29, of Chelsea, was distributing fentanyl in that city. Troopers also learned that Benton was wearing a court-ordered GPS monitoring bracelet as a condition of his bail for criminal cases for which he was awaiting trial, in which he was charged with armed assault with intent to murder and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Over several months, Troopers in the unit, which is attached to the Suffolk District Attorney’s Office, investigated Benton’s fentanyl distribution. As a result of that investigation, Troopers obtained search warrants for Benton’s home and a motor vehicle. Early yesterday morning, Troopers from the detective unit, along the State Police Special Tactical Operations Team and Chelsea Police executed those warrants.

MSP STOP Troopers made entry into the apartment and located Benton, as well as an adult female and a child. Investigators found approximately 100 grams of suspected fentanyl, approximately 10.5 grams of crack cocaine, a large capacity magazine containing 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition, 206 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, 38 rounds of .380 caliber ammunition, 12 additional rounds of 9mm ammunition, and a single round of .38 caliber ammunition. The narcotics were located in a living room where the child could easily have accessed them, and a majority of the ammunition was found inside a backpack in the child’s bedroom.

Troopers and Officers transported Benton to the State Police-Revere Barracks, where he was booked on charges of trafficking in fentanyl, possession of a Class B narcotic with intent to distribute, and possession of ammunition without a Firearm Identification Card. Because of the accessibility of the drugs and ammunition to the child in the apartment, Troopers notified the state Department of Children and Families of the unsafe environment.

Police stated that Benton was arraigned in Chelsea District Court, at which time his bail on his open shooting case was revoked and he was ordered held pending further notice. A dangerousness hearing will be held Friday to determine whether he we will continue to be held in jail until trial.