BOSTON — Davaun Oswald, a 22-year-old New Bedford man, was indicted today on federal drug charges tied to a January 31 bust that uncovered a potent mix of heroin laced with fentanyl and a massive stash of marijuana. The indictment, handed down by a federal grand jury, charges Oswald with one count of possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana.
According to court documents, law enforcement officers raided Oswald’s apartment following an investigation into drug distribution networks operating in and around New Bedford. Inside, they seized approximately 15 grams of a heroin-fentanyl mixture—a deadly combo responsible for countless overdoses—and more than 450 grams of marijuana. The haul underscores the ongoing opioid crisis gripping communities across Massachusetts.
Oswald has been held in state custody since his arrest. He is no stranger to the criminal justice system, with prior felony convictions for criminal possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Those convictions now compound the severity of the current charges, potentially exposing him to harsher penalties under federal sentencing guidelines.
If convicted, Oswald faces up to 30 years in prison, a fine of up to $2 million, and a lifetime of supervised release. Federal prosecutors are pushing hard, treating the case as part of a broader crackdown on street-level dealers fueling the region’s drug epidemic. Sentencing, if a conviction is secured, will be determined by a federal district court judge weighing the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of the Organized Crime and Gang Unit in the office of United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. Today’s announcement was made jointly by Lelling, Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Boston, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn, and New Bedford Police Chief Joseph C. Cordeiro.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Justice Department initiative reinvigorated in 2017 to combat violent crime through coordinated federal, state, and local enforcement. While the charges are serious, it’s crucial to note that the indictment contains allegations only. Davaun Oswald is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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