A Mass and Cass drug dealer who had a “major presence” in the homeless area has been sentenced to 13 years in prison after being convicted on numerous drug and gun charges.

Lowell man Jay Candelario, 43, sold “deadly drugs for his own profit” in the Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard section of Boston, according to the Suffolk District attorney.

A judge on Thursday sentenced Candelario to eight years on the charges of: trafficking fentanyl, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of suboxone with intent to distribute, illegal possession of a firearm, and illegal possession of a high-capacity magazine. Candelario is also facing an additional five years for possession of a firearm while in commission of a felony.

“Mr. Candelario was a major presence at Mass and Cass when the area was at its peak population point,” Suffolk DA Kevin Hayden said. “Our focus has always been on the opportunists like him who saw only one thing amid the vast hardship at Mass and Cass — the ability to make money.”

Related Articles

Caroling at Mass and Cass: Community spreads holiday cheer, optimistic about future of troubled area

Roxbury residents weigh ideas for playground near Mass and Cass

Lawmaker: Why not a ferry instead of Long Island bridge?

On Feb. 13, 2021, Boston police officers arrested Candelario after they saw him sell drugs in the comfort area set up by the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program, next to the Southampton Street Shelter.

During the arrest, officers seized a .40-caliber Taurus pistol with a large-capacity magazine, 111 grams of fentanyl, six grams of cocaine, 42 grams of suboxone, more than $3,500 in cash, drug packaging materials and scales.

The Taurus firearm was customized with art featuring the Grim Reaper.

“This man used space set up by a caring organization to keep people warm on cold winter days in order to sell those same susceptible people deadly drugs for his own profit,” Hayden said.

“This was an impact drug dealer in Mass and Cass who came from outside of Boston to prey upon the vulnerable people in the area,” the DA added. “I thank the jury and judge for making sure this man is held accountable for the many harms he has inflicted.”

Hayden’s office last year launched Services Over Sentences, a program funded with $400,000 from the office’s asset forfeiture account to help lower-level offenders in the Mass and Cass area receive support to leave the area. The SOS program received an additional $1 million in funding from the Massachusetts Legislature this year.

Hayden said his office’s approach has been to target impact criminals in the area — drug dealers, human traffickers, violent offenders and others — while offering services or diversion programs to qualifying lower-level offenders.