Pittsfield Man Facing Prison on Firearms, Drug Convictions
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A city man was found guilty on Wednesday on drug and firearms charges.
A jury in Berkshire Superior Court convicted Jason McFadden, 43, on counts including illegal possession of a large capacity weapon and a firearm, possession of those weapons during commission of a felony, improper storage of firearms, and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Possession of a large capacity firearm during the commission of a felony carries with it a potential sentence of life in prison, according to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office.
McFadden was found not guilty on single counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony; improper storage of a firearm; and illegal ownership of a firearm. The three not-guilty verdicts were all tied to a weapon recovered at his residence on Daniels Avenue.
First Assistant District Attorney Marianne Shelvey represented the commonwealth.
The Berkshire County Drug Task Force and the Commonwealth Interdiction Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team executed a search warrant at 98 Daniels Ave., an apartment, on Sept. 28, 2018. McFadden was found in a bedroom along with a second individual.
A search of that premises uncovered about $64,000 in cash, multiple cellular phones, four firearms including the large capacity firearm (with a bullet in the chamber), drug distribution paraphernalia, keys including one that opened a lockbox with a firearm inside, and residency paperwork for McFadden and the second individual.
In clearing the basement of any possible individuals, investigators found an internal unlocked basement door that accessed the adjacent apartment. Officers then had probable cause to then search that apartment as someone could have fled into the adjoining unit.
In that unit, they found another loaded firearm, three cellular phones, drug distribution paraphernalia and a leather shoulder holster with ammunition pouch that fit one of the firearms located in the apartment, and residency paperwork for McFadden's brother, Timothy McFadden.
Jason McFadden has an extensive criminal history in the State of New York which includes convictions for drug distribution; significant possession of controlled substances; and felony possession of loaded firearms, according to the district attorney.
"McFadden is a dangerous criminal who brought violence to not just Berkshire County but the Northeast as well," said District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. "His arrest records show he distributed drugs beyond Massachusetts. With this guilty verdict, our community is now a safer place to live and also lessens the flow of drugs and guns into our county."
Shugrue commended law enforcement officers for their outstanding police work and thanked the jury for their careful deliberation throughout the case.
Sentencing by Superior Court Judge Maureen Hogan will occur after the bifurcated jury-waived trial on Sept. 6.
Jason McFadden is alleged to be an armed career criminal having been previously convicted of three violent crimes or serious drug offenses. This charge carries a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison with no eligibility for parole.
Tags: drug trafficking, firearms,
