Alabama man busted in Massachusetts for allegedly selling illegal cigarettes
A 51-year-old Alabama man is accused of selling boxes of illegal Newport cigarettes in Dorchester’s Grove Hall neighborhood, according to police who are also bringing gun and drug charges.
Manestreem Forty-Four of Greensboro, Alabama, was arrested by Boston Police over the weekend.
The arrest followed complaints from residents about drug activity and the illicit sale of unstamped cigarettes in the area, which “negatively impacted the community and nearby businesses,” police said in a statement.
Following the complaints, Drug Control Unit police officers conducted targeted patrols in the neighborhood.
Then on Friday at around 11 a.m., police officers reportedly saw Forty-Four engaging in multiple hand-to-hand transactions from his vehicle in a Grove Hall business parking lot.
People left those transactions with boxes of illegal Newport cigarettes, police said.
A day later at about noon, police officers again reportedly saw Forty-Four selling illegal cigarettes.
“After witnessing numerous transactions over two days, Officers approached the suspect and identified themselves,” police said. “Upon being informed of his detention, Mr. Forty-Four resisted by pushing an Officer and attempting to flee in his vehicle. He was quickly secured without further incident.”
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Police searched Forty-Four’s vehicle and found: multiple packages of unstamped cigarettes, several bags of marijuana, a tactical satchel containing a tan and silver 9mm SCCY Industries CPX-2 firearm with 11 rounds of ammunition in its magazine, and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Forty-Four was taken into custody and was expected to be arraigned on the following charges: possession of drugs with intent to distribute (Class D); possession of unstamped cigarettes; assault and battery on a police officer; resisting arrest; unlawful possession of a large-capacity firearm; unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device; unlawful possession of ammunition; uninsured motor vehicle; and unregistered motor vehicle.