New Bedford Man Gets 10–12 Years in Major Fentanyl, Gun Case

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A New Bedford man has been sentenced to at least a decade in prison on drug trafficking and firearms charges.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that Jesse Soares, 42, pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to trafficking in fentanyl and cocaine as well as enhanced firearm charges.

He was sentenced to serve 10 to 12 years in state prison.

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Details of the December 2024 Arrest

The charges date back to December 14, 2024, when New Bedford Police detectives saw Soares sitting in a vehicle outside his apartment on Bayberry Drive. They had been searching for him because he had seven active warrants for his arrest, and had previously led police on a vehicle chase in November, during which he avoided capture.

READ MORE: New Bedford Police Arrest Wanted Man

On December 14, 2024, detectives stopped him and placed him under arrest. A pat frisk turned up 1.9 grams of crack cocaine on his person, along with $260 cash and the keys to his apartment.

In the vehicle, police found a digital scale and three rounds of 9mm ammunition. Soares did not possess a license to carry or FID card.

Drugs and Firearms Found in Apartment Search

After obtaining a search warrant for Soares’ apartment, police found 639 grams of cocaine, 73 grams of fentanyl, a Canink TP9SF pistol, two large-capacity magazines, 88 rounds of 9mm ammo, digital scales, a calibration weight and $5,274 in cash.

He was charged with a number of offenses, including trafficking cocaine over 200 grams, fentanyl trafficking over 36 grams and being a felon in possession of a high-capacity firearm with a defaced serial number.

Soares’ Criminal History and Prior Sentences

Soares had previously served a 10-year state prison sentence for armed robbery and possession of a sawed-off shotgun in 2011, and a five-year sentence in 2003 for two armed robberies. He had also served time in the Bristol County House of Correction.

District Attorney’s Statement on Sentencing

"The defendant is a career criminal who continues to peddle large amounts of cocaine and fentanyl for profit,” D.A. Quinn said. “In addition, he was possessing large amounts of ammunition, a firearm, and magazines to facilitate his drug dealing business. He clearly poses a significant danger to the community, and a lengthy period of jail time is warranted.”