Man faces fentanyl, cocaine, trafficking charges after Framingham arrest

Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News
·2 min read
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FRAMINGHAM - A man who once served federal prison time after he was identified as a founder of a violent Framingham street gang is once again in trouble with the law.

Framingham Police, working with the Metrowest Drug Task Force and the Massachusetts State Police, arrested James Salvi, 37, on Friday after an investigation.

Although Salvi's address is unknown, police discovered he was involved in selling drugs and obtained a search warrant to 30 Audrea Road last week. Police did not say how Salvi is connected to that address.

Police served the warrant early Friday morning and found 335 grams of fentanyl (11.8 ounces), 195 grams (6.9 ounces) of cocaine and one gram of methamphetamines, as well as more than $5,000 in cash, police spokeswoman Lt. Rachel Mickens said.

Framingham Police say they seized a large amount of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as a small amount of methamphetamines, on Friday, leading to the arrest of James Salvi.
Framingham Police say they seized a large amount of fentanyl and cocaine, as well as a small amount of methamphetamines, on Friday, leading to the arrest of James Salvi.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate that was originally created as a painkiller to help those battling cancer. It is considered about 50 times stronger than heroin and is often mixed into other drugs.

More:Police: Leaders of violent street gang indicted

According to the federal department of justice, fentanyl can retail on the street is about $100 to $150 a gram, while cocaine varies anywhere from $25 to $125 a gram, depending on purity.

Police charged Salvi with trafficking in fentanyl of more than 200 grams, trafficking in cocaine of more than 100 grams, possession of methamphetamines with the intent to distribute and conspiracy to violate the state's drug laws.

He also had Framingham District Court warrants that charged him with kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and a harassment prevention disorder.

Friday's arrest is just in a long history of arrests in Framingham. In 2007, Salvi was one of 20 members of a street gang called the Kendall Street Thugs (or KST). The KST was active in Framingham during the early 2000s and local and federal authorities said the gang was responsible for several shootings, large scale drug trafficking and the sale and purchases of illegal guns.

More:Man held without bail after pellet gun incident

Salvi was identified by federal authorities as a founding member of the KST. He pleaded guilty to federal gun charges in 2008 and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. It is not clear how long he had served. He was out of prison as of March of 2017, when he had been arrested on drug charges in Framingham.

Salvi was ordered held without bail at his Framingham District Court arraignment on Monday, pending a hearing to determine if he was a danger to the public. At Wednesday's dangerousness hearing, he was ordered held without bail. He is due back in court on Jan. 12 for a probable cause hearing.

Salvi's lawyer, Trevor Clement, declined to comment on the case.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Man held without bail after Framingham drug bust