Chelsea man ordered held without bail on drug, ammunition charges

BOSTON, March 15, 2022— A Chelsea man today was ordered held without bail after police found fentanyl, crack cocaine, a high-capacity magazine and numerous rounds of ammunition in his apartment, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

D’Mitri Benton, 29, was ordered held pending a dangerousness hearing scheduled for March 18. Benton is charged with trafficking in fentanyl, distribution of a Class B substance (crack cocaine), possession of ammunition without a Firearm Identification Card, and possession of a large capacity weapon or feeding device.

State Police assigned to Hayden’s office and Revere Police executed a search warrant at Benton’s 70 Lafayette Avenue apartment early Tuesday morning and found 100 grams of suspected fentanyl, 10 grams of suspected crack cocaine, a high-capacity magazine containing 10 rounds, 257 additional rounds of ammunition of various calibers, a small digital scale and a quantity of cash.

The additional rounds were found in a backpack in a child’s bedroom.

Benton was arraigned in Chelsea District Court. Benton has served committed time for violent offenses, drug distribution, and a prior gun offense. He has an open shooting case out of Suffolk Superior Court.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications

All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.