Mello Arrested in Drug Raid

The son of former SouthCoast crime boss Timothy Mello was arrested Friday during a drug raid in Fall River.

The Herald News reported that 22-year-old Timothy Mello II of Dartmouth was arrested along with 31-year-old Kelly Duarte of Fall River in Duarte's apartment.

State police and members of the Fall River Police Department's Vice and Intelligence Unit executed a search warrant at Duarte's apartment. The warrant named Duarte as the target and said police were looking for drugs.

During the search, police found a variety of prescription medications, along with dozens of small bags of heroin and cash.

The pair face a number of charges, including possession to distribute heroin. Both were arraigned in Fall River District Court on Friday, with Mello being held on $2000 cash bail and Duarte held on $1000 cash bail.

Mello's father, whom authorities say ran a crime ring in New Bedford and Fall River beginning in the 1990s, was released from federal prison in September of 2011 after he served most of his 12-year sentence for racketeering.