For Immediate Release May 1, 2017
Contact: Press Office
781-897-8325
NORTH READING – Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and North Reading Chief of Police Michael Murphy have announced that Richard Ward, 60, of North Reading, pled guilty on April 21, 2017, to five counts of distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone following an undercover operation conducted by the North Reading Police Department.
Judge Krupp sentenced the defendant to three years to three years and one day in State Prison.
In January of 2014, North Reading Police began an investigation of illegal drug sales being run out of a restaurant on Main Street in North Reading. North Reading Police began to surveil the defendant and witnessed multiple hand-to-hand drug deals and the defendant leaving the restaurant to make drug transactions. The North Reading Police Department and Massachusetts State Police began an undercover operation in April of 2014 where they conducted drug deals with the defendant on multiple occasions for cocaine. On May 16 of 2014, the North Reading Police arrested the defendant following a drug transaction. After the arrest, a search of the defendant’s person revealed additional cocaine and prescription medication.
The prosecutor assigned to this case was Assistant District Attorney Whitney Williams.