Dorchester man held on $25,000 bail after narcotics trafficking arrest

BOSTON, September 20, 2022— A Dorchester man was ordered held on $25,000 bail yesterday after being charged in the South Boston Division of Boston Municipal Court with trafficking cocaine and heroin, District Attorney Kevin Hayden announced.

MICHAEL JOHNSON, 65, is charged with trafficking cocaine 36-100 grams, possession with intent to distribute, and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.  Assistant District Attorney James Duffy requested $100,000 cash bail and a stay away order from South Boston. Judge Paul Treseler ordered Johnson held on $25,000 cash bail.

Boston police, as part of a drug dealing investigation, obtained an arrest warrant on September 9 for Johnson.  At about 12:30 pm on September 15, officers observed Johnson in the area of South Bay Mall operating a vehicle, despite having a suspended license. When Johnson parked near McDonough Way officers approached and placed him under arrest.  

When removing Johnson from the cruiser for booking, officers observed a blue sock stuffed in the corner of the compartment where Johnson was seated. Inside the sock officers recovered 162 baggies of an off-white rock substance believed to be crack cocaine, 20 baggies of a tan powder believed to be heroin, and three oxycodone pills. At booking officers seized $234 from Johnson.  

Johnson has a lengthy record, with numerous convictions for dealing drugs. He will return to court October 19 for a pre-trial hearing.

“This is the type of high-volume drug activity that can grind neighborhoods down. We have no desire to incarcerate those with substance use issues.  But a person who has been convicted of dealing and continues that activity presents a problem that must be addressed, for the good of our communities,” Hayden said.

James Borghesani, Chief of Communications