Drug raid on Sawyer Ave. leads to arrests, scrutiny for landlord

A raid in Savin Hill earlier this month landed two men behind bars in connection to an alleged crack cocaine distribution ring and has renewed scrutiny on the property’s owner.

Boston Police officers from the C-11 drug unit executed a search warrant at a second floor apartment on 114 Sawyer Ave around 5 p.m. on Jan. 9 and arrested two residents of the apartment. Marquis Rivera and Anthony Rivera were both charged with one count of possession of a class B substance with intent to distribute.

While searching the apartment, officers found more than 11 grams of cocaine, a small amount of cash stashed in a bedroom dresser and a pair of cell phones and digital scales believed to be used for arranging drug transactions.

The pair were arraigned the following day at Dorchester District Court and were held on a $1,000 cash bail. They face up to 10 years of incarceration in a state prison.

The building at 114 Sawyer Ave is owned by My Van Nguyen, who owns a number of properties in the area, including 47-49 Savin Hill Ave., which came to the attention of police in late December following a large brawl which ended with five arrests.

Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Services director Jay Walsh said Nguyen recently appeared in Boston Housing Court in response to the fight and tenants involved in the incident have agreed to vacate the building on March 1.

Walsh added that the city’s Problem Properties Task Force is expected to meet this week and discuss both the Savin Hill Avenue and Sawyer Avenue buildings.


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