A Dorchester man is back in custody after his bail was revoked due to new charges involving possession of an illegal firearm and drug trafficking. Kelvin Ortiz-Guerrero, 25, faces multiple charges, among them the illegal possession of a large-capacity firearm and trafficking fentanyl over 10 grams, as announced by District Attorney Kevin Hayden. The bail on his open case involving charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle in Worcester County was also revoked.
Ortiz-Guerrero's bail was set at $10,000 for these new charges, and he is scheduled to return to court on August 8 for a probable cause hearing. The sequence of events leading to his re-arrest began on July 10 when Boston police pulled over a red Jeep Cherokee on Blue Hill Avenue. An expired inspection sticker and excessive window tint prompted their attention. Upon searching the car, officers discovered more than just traffic infractions.
In a hidden compartment inside the passenger door panel, officers found a loaded Springfield Hellcat 9mm firearm with its serial number defaced. The vehicle investigation further yielded over 12 grams of suspected fentanyl in the glove box and a scale in a center console compartment. Ortiz-Guerrero was promptly arrested after a frisk revealed $1,060 on his person.
Highlighting the gravity of the find, D.A. Hayden said, "This incident involves a combination of factors that combine to have a degrading effect on our neighborhoods: guns, drugs and cash. Every time an illegal gun is recovered it increases the safety of our police officers and our residents, and inches us forward in our efforts to reduce gun violence throughout our city," The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office underscores that all charged individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
D.A. Hayden's office, which serves Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass., handles upwards of 20,000 cases annually. With over 160 attorneys prosecuting in various courts, the office's commitment to public safety and education is evident in its wide range of services catering to those affected by the criminal justice system. For more about the office's mission and work, visit their website.
