Convicted drug dealer, 69, faces new drug charges

SALEM – A 69-year-old convicted drug dealer already serving a 5-year sentence in state prison was found guilty on another drug case out of Lynn.Richard Tripp, who last lived at 264 Boston St., #2, Lynn, went on trial this week on a charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, subsequent offense, stemming from his arrest in July.He opted for a jury-waive trial in Salem Superior Court, meaning he wanted a judge to decide his case rather than a 12-person jury of his peers.Judge David A. Lowy found him guilty as charged Monday afternoon and sentenced Tripp to the minimum mandatory punishment of five years in state prison for the crime, but the sentence will run simultaneously with the five-year prison term he currently is serving, instead of one after the other.It was shortly before 11:30 p.m., on July 1, 2007 when Lynn police detectives Paul Holey and Richard Fucci arrested Tripp driving a Jeep in the area of Western Avenue and discovered just one-half gram of cocaine on his person.Tripp was convicted by a jury in September of selling a twist of cocaine on Dec. 12, 2006 to a cooperating witness inside Big Lots Market at 126 Boston St. in Lynn.He also convicted in 1996 in Lynn District Court for dealing cocaine.Assistant District Attorney Greg A. Friedholm prosecuted the cases.