New Bedford Police Release More Details on Year-Long Investigation Into Fall River Man

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — New Bedford Police have released more information about the year-long investigation that led to the arrest of a Fall River man after he was found to be allegedly selling drugs, guns and other contraband via an app.

Benjamin Hunt, 26, was arrested on August 28 and charged with three counts of distribution of controlled substances and one count of transferring machine guns.

According to police, Hunt was allegedly advertising drugs including counterfeit pharmaceutical pills that contained fentanyl and other substances.

He was also advertising firearms and firearm parts, including privately-made “ghost guns” (made from individually purchased parts or containing no serial number) and machine gun conversion devices known as “switches” designed to convert firearms into fully-automatic weapons.

The U.S. Attorney's Office had previously said Hunt was doing so via the Telegram app.

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Police said multiple search warrants executed in both New Bedford and Fall River led to the seizure of “significant illegal narcotics” and “an arsenal of firearms,” including thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamines, 55 grams of suspected cocaine.

Police also seized three assault rifles, 39 “ghost gun” Glock-style pistols, three rifle silencers, 22 machine gun conversion devices known as “switches,” a 50-round drum magazine, 10 31-round extended magazines, and two 3D printers.

According to police, an associate of Hunt – Marcell Gonsalves, 27, of New Bedford – was arrested on July 7 allegedly in possession of a “ghost gun” identical to the ones seized from Hunt’s arsenal.

The investigation was led by Detective Kevin Barbosa of the New Bedford Police Department in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

“I’m proud of Detective Kevin Barbosa’s diligence which led to the execution of these warrants which yielded such a substantial amount of contraband,” New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira said. “Of course, we cannot overstate the importance of having the strong relationship and support of the DEA and ATF. It is a job well done all around and I am appreciative to all of the men and women involved.”

“Det. Barbosa displayed skill and perseverance in taking down Mr. Hunt's enterprise of distributing guns, gun accessories, and fentanyl masquerading as Percocet pills into our community,” said Captain Justin Kagan, commanding officer of the narcotics and criminal investigation division of the New Bedford Police Department.