$15G bail for man arrested with more than 100 grams of heroin

LYNN – A judge ordered $15,000 cash bail for a city man arrested with more than 100 grams of heroin and other drugs.”All totalled, the drugs found on his person as well as drugs found at the apartment was approximately 125 grams,” Essex Assistant District Attorney Justin Edwards said in Lynn District Court Thursday.Francisco M. Arias, 19, of 20 Massachusetts Ave., was arrested and charged with trafficking in heroin +100 grams; a drug violation near a school/park; and possession with intent to distribute Class B drugs; at 11:58 a.m. Wednesday.He was arraigned on the charges Thursday in Lynn District Court where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.A confidential informant told police a young, dark-skinned Hispanic man known as “Mario” would leave the Massachusetts Avenue home at approximately 11:20 a.m. and walk over the hill to Webster Street to deliver a large amount of heroin, according to a police report by Lynn Police Officer Stephen Emery.Police stopped “Mario,” identifying him as Arias, as they observed him leave the home at this time and frisked the suspect for weapons, according to police. An officer reported finding three sandwich bags containing numerous smaller packets of suspected heroin.Arias gave permission for officers to search the basement apartment where he lived, according to police.Police reported recovering 90 pills of Diazepam, multiple packets of suspected heroin; a packet of cocaine; and paraphernalia for drug distribution.Edwards requested Arias be held on $250,000 cash bail. In addition to citing the quantity of suspected drugs recovered, Edwards noted the trafficking charge carried a mandatory minimum sentence of eight years in prison if the defendant was convicted.Defense attorney Oriosto Santana, however, said Arias denied living at the apartment where much of the drugs were found and that police had no probable cause to initially search the defendant.Santana requested $5,000 cash bail.Judge Joseph Jennings asked the street value of the suspected drugs, and Edwards said police believed 100 grams was worth about $12,500.Jennings ordered $15,000 cash bail and scheduled Arias to return to court April 15.