Man Sentenced to State Prison After 2022 North Adams Drug Offense

Print Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Nichols Melendez, 33 of Springfield, was sentenced in Berkshire Superior Court to seven to nine years in state prison.
 
On Monday, Dec. 2 Melendez pleaded guilty to six charges related to drug distribution and illegal firearm possession.
 
According to a report from the District Attorney's Office, On March 15, 2022, the North Adams Police Department executed a search warrant of 64 Charles Street, North Adams. The search was conducted based on previous investigation a suspected large-scale drug distribution involving Melendez. 
 
There were four people in the Charles Street residence during the search including Melendez and Troy Dupras. Dupras pleaded guilty earlier to drug trafficking charges related to the same search. When police entered the residence, they discovered Melendez in a back bedroom. Melendez was found to have an illegal firearm, approximately $11,882 in cash, and large amounts of drugs and drug trafficking paraphernalia. 
 
Evidence recovered from the scene included 92.9 grams of crack cocaine (valued at approximately $9,290), 10,130 bags of heroin (valued at approximately $60,780), around $11,882 in cash, a loaded High Point 9mm firearm, 9mm ammunition, and drug distribution paraphernalia such as digital scales, multiple phones, and plastic baggies.
 
The charges include trafficking in cocaine (7 to 9 years in state prison), trafficking in fentanyl (36–100g, 7 to 9 years in state prison, concurrent), illegal possession of a firearm (2.5 to 5 years in state prison, concurrent), illegal possession of a loaded firearm (2.5 years in state prison, concurrent), armed career felon (7 to 9 years in state prison, concurrent), and improper storage of a firearm, rifle, or shotgun (1.5 years in the House of Corrections, concurrent).

Tags: superior court,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive. 

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour. 

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.  

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children.  The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are providedas information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation.  One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue. 

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out. 

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories