Contact: Beth Stone- (508) 584-8120
7 Firearms, Large Amounts of Suspected Fentanyl, Cocaine, Heroin, Seized
BROCKTON – A man is being held on high bail for allegedly running a drug distribution operation out of a downtown loft apartment in Brockton, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
Paul Nova (4/25/92) of Weymouth, was arraigned in Brockton District Court today on one count each of the following: Trafficking in Fentanyl, Trafficking in Cocaine, Trafficking in Heroin, Conspiracy to Violate the Controlled Substance Act, Possession of a High Capacity Magazine, Unlawful Possession of Ammunition, Resisting Arrest, Receiving Stolen Property and Operating after License Revocation, Subsequent Offense. Nova was also charged with seven counts of Possession of a Firearm without an FID Card. The Commonwealth requested $150,000 cash bail and the judge set bail at $75,000 bail and revoked Nova’s bail on an open Norfolk County case. Nova is next scheduled to appear in court on July 20, 2017.
“Drug distribution and guns go hand-in-hand,” DA Cruz said. “This ongoing investigation by State Police Detectives and Brockton Police has led to one man being held on high bail, a large amount of drugs and guns off the streets of Brockton, and hopefully made a significant dent in the local narcotics distribution trade.”
Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter said, “I want to commend the work of the State Police, Brockton Police Department and the Plymouth County DA’s Office for helping in our fight to keep guns and drugs off our streets. It takes a team effort and we appreciate the coordination of all agencies in cracking down on drugs and weapons in our community.”
During May and June, 2017, State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation into Heroin and Fentanyl distribution occurring within Plymouth County. As part of the investigation, State Police developed information that Nova, who resided as 580 Middle Street, #32 in Weymouth, would travel in a gray Ford Edge to 147 Centre Street, #501 in Brockton. Nova allegedly operated this loft apartment in Brockton as a “stash house,” where he stored large amounts of narcotics for distribution.
At approximately 3:54 pm on Wednesday, State Police observed the gray Ford Edge leave 580 Middle Street in Weymouth and travel directly to 147 Centre Street in Brockton and arrive at 4:24 pm. Nova exited the car and entered the building. At this time, State Police Detectives, Brockton Police Detectives and US Drug Enforcement Administration agents identified themselves to Nova and he was placed under arrest after a brief struggle. On Nova’s person, investigators found one plastic bag, containing three clear twist plastic bags of a white powdery substance, suspected to be narcotics, two cell phones and $5,175 in cash. Police executed a search warrant of the loft apartment at Unit 501 and found more than 2,000 grams of a white powdery substance, suspected to be Cocaine, Heroin or Fentanyl, approximately $28,000
in cash, two digital scales, assorted packaging and preparation materials, numerous cellular telephones, and assorted paperwork.
State Police found seven firearms inside the Brockton apartment, including a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson, Jimenez Arms Model JA 22 semi-automatic firearm, a .45 auto caliber Glock semi-automatic firearm, .38 caliber Colt revolver, 9 MM, and two .22 caliber firearms. State Police also seized numerous rounds of live ammunition.
A search warrant executed at Nova’s Weymouth residence yielded miscellaneous paperwork, mail and money ledger’s belonging to Nova.
The drugs seized have been transported to the State Police Crime Lab where they will be tested for analysis. The investigation remains active and ongoing by State Police Detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, Brockton Police and Weymouth Police.
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