North Adams Man Sentenced On Drug, Weapon Charges

A North Adams man was sentenced to up to six years in prison Monday after admitting to weapon and drug distribution charges in Berkshire Superior Court.

The Berkshire Eagle  reports Matthew Rodriguez, 25, appeared before Judge Karen Goodwin and pleaded guilty to a total of nine counts stemming from the execution of a search warrant on Oct. 12, 2017.

The search yielded three weapons, one of which is considered a high-capacity firearm, two large-capacity ammunition magazines, ammunition, approximately $3,000 cash, some of which was marked money used in undercover drug purchases, and 600 bags of heroin also recovered dealer paraphernalia such as digital scales and baggies.

In all, Rodriguez pleaded guilty to two counts each of illegal possession of a large capacity magazine and illegal ownership of a firearm, and one count each of illegal possession of a large capacity firearm, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, committing a drug violation near a school zone, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony and possession of ammunition without a firearms identification card.

Rodriguez will serve his sentences at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction. He was given credit for 676 days of time already served.