New Bedford Man Arrested With Ghost Gun, Another With Drugs

NEW BEDFORD — On Monday, New Bedford police in two separate operations arrested a man for allegedly possessing a 'ghost gun' and another for allegedly selling cocaine and fentanyl from a backpack downtown.

Police said that 20-year-old Joshua DeLeon was taken into custody after detectives searched his 104 Locust St. apartment on Monday.

During the search they found and seized a black plastic Polymer 80 high capacity semi-automatic pistol loaded with 15 rounds of ammunition, according to police.

Polymer firearms are privately made and don't have serial numbers, meaning they are untraceable. They are considered to be "ghost guns."

Detectives also found and seized $2,735 in cash, although a reason for the seizure was not given.

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DeLeon is charged with possessing a large capacity firearm and ammunition without an FID card, improperly storing a large capacity firearm, and illegally possessing a high capacity feeding device.

That same day, police also arrested 33-year-old James Sessine for allegedly trafficking cocaine and fentanyl out of a backpack near the SRTA bus station on Elm Street.

Police said detectives responded to reports of a man in the area carrying a backpack filled with possible drugs packaged for sale.

They caught Sessine and allegedly found over 66 grams of cocaine and over 51 grams of fentanyl in his possession, along with 42 suboxone film strips.

According to police, the detectives also found a stun gun, a folding knife, scissors, bags, a digital scales, and $3,160 in cash, which was seized as proceeds from drug sales.

Sessine was arrested and is charged with trafficking 36 or more grams of cocaine and fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute a class B drug.

Police said he also has eight open cases out of New Bedford District Court, one of which is also for distributing a class B substance.