Boston Man Charged with Heroin Distribution Defendant on pre-trial release for state murder charges

 Defendant on pre-trial release for state murder charges

BOSTON – A Boston man was arrested yesterday and charged with distribution of heroin.

Anthony Howard, 34, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin. Following an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal, Howard was detained pending a probable cause and detention hearing scheduled for Aug. 11, 2021.

According to the charging document, Howard allegedly sold over 30 grams of heroin to a cooperating witness on July 20, 2021.

Howard is currently on pre-trial release for a 2014 indictment charging murder, armed assault to murder, and illegal firearm possession, amongst other charges currently pending in Suffolk Superior Court.

The charge of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, at least three years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million. Sentences are imposed by a federal district judge based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell; Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division; and Boston Police Acting Commissioner Gregory Long made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Dawley of Mendell’s Organized Crime and Gang Unit is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. 

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.