Police: Revere teen gave up drug sales for college

LYNN – A Revere teen was released on $7,500 cash bail Thursday after an undercover police officer reported buying heroin from the defendant four times before the teen turned over the operation to others because he was starting college.
“[The defendant] stated he would be moving to college at UMass Dartmouth Sunday and would only be around on the weekends,” Lynn Police Officer Stephen Emery wrote in a report. “[He] wanted [the undercover officer] to meet ‘Carlos’ since she would be dealing with him on any future deals during the week while [the defendant] was away at school.”
Christian Mercedes, 18, of 66 Jarvis St. #2, Revere, surrendered on a warrant and was charged with four counts of distribution of Class A drugs, at his arraignment Thursday in Lynn District Court.
Mercedes pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Police also issued warrants for Leodeyarnis Torres, 25, and Gueddy Rivera, 18, for one count each of distribution of Class A heroin, according to court documents. Victor Enrique Santos-Calderon, 18, had already been arrested at the time of the police report.
Police said a confidential information in July and August gave officers the cellphone number and description of a Hispanic male with a blue minivan from whom they could buy heroin. Officers identified the suspect as Mercedes based on the minivan’s registration, and called the number to arrange for four undercover buys in August, police reported. In each buy, an undercover officer texted or called Mercedes and they exchanged three (and one time, four) twists of heroin for $60, according to court documents. Torres was identified as a passenger in Mercedes’ car during one of the buys, according to police.
The officer then allegedly arranged to buy heroin from Santos-Calderon in September, and the drugs were allegedly delivered by Rivera.
Defense Attorney Kenneth Shutzer said Mercedes was not involved in the drug deals. He said Mercedes just turned 18 and was attending college on a scholarship after graduating from Chelsea High School with high honors. Judge Dominic Paratore noted in court documents that Mercedes had no criminal record and the charges may impact his scholarship.Paratore ordered $7,500 cash bail, which was posted the day of the arraignment, according to court documents. Mercedes is scheduled to return to court Dec. 2.