<p>Alexander W. Carlson was sentenced to four to five years in state prison Monday in a drug trafficking case involving fentanyl. Mr. Carlson pleaded guilty in Dukes County superior court to a second offense of possession with intent to distribute a class B drug.
A 31-year-old Edgartown man was sentenced to four to five years in state prison Monday in a drug trafficking case involving fentanyl.
Alexander W. Carlson pleaded guilty in Dukes County superior court to a second offense of possession with intent to distribute a class B drug (fentanyl).
The case dates to October 2017 when Mr. Carlson was arrested outside the Vineyard Haven Steamship Authority terminal. Police allegedly seized about 103 grams of fentanyl at the time.
He was arraigned in Edgartown district court and later the case moved up to Dukes County superior court, where he was indicted by a grand jury in February 2018 and arraigned two months later.
Following the guilty plea on Monday, the Hon. Robert C. Rufo, an associate justice of the superior court, sentenced Mr. Carlson to serve not less than four but not more than five years in state prison. He was committed to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Walpole. The assistant district attorney handling the case had requested a six to eight-year sentence, while the defense attorney asked for three to five years.
The spring sitting of Dukes County superior court opened Monday in the Edgartown courthouse. The session will run through the month with a mix of criminal and civil cases on the docket.
Also on the criminal docket for the current session is a motion hearing for Jason R. Willoughby, who was indicted in a separate case involving fentanyl on charges of manslaughter, possession with intent to distribute a class B substance, and conspiracy to violate drug laws.
In February, Mr. Willougby, 33, of Vineyard Haven was arrested several days after police were called to a home in Vineyard Haven where a woman was found dead of an apparent overdose. According to a police report, an investigation found that Mr. Willoughby sold the woman the drugs that caused the overdose.
A grand jury convened Monday and returned no new criminal indictments.
This is the first superior court session for newly elected clerk-magistrate George Davis.
“It was an interesting first day, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the session,” Mr. Davis said Tuesday.
Comments
Alex Carlson is a very nice
Tom Engley West TisburyAlex Carlson is a very nice young man who made a mistake he will come out a little older and much smarter. His family is wonderful two great parents Peace.
He mistakenly brought 103
AnonHe mistakenly brought 103 grams of Fentanyl to the island? I personally think 4 years isn’t even close to a fair sentence. Chances are at least 1 of those 103 grams would have taken a life.
This is the same "very nice
T Bone Oak BluffsThis is the same "very nice young man" who was arrested 10 years ago for possession with intent to distribute heroin. So this is just another mistake? Or is his mistake he got caught. Again. Personally, I think he should have a longer sentence.
He did not make a “mistake”!
BFHe did not make a “mistake”!
He made a choice!
Finally, justice! Alex
BMBMV EdgartownFinally, justice! Alex Carlson is not a "very nice young man."
He is a criminal who has no care as to what happens to the people he sells his drugs to. He is the cause of many overdoses that have happened over the last few years and it is so refreshing to finally see justice served!
I hope if they’re going to
Kristen EdgartownI hope if they’re going to hold Alex responsible for being in possession of Fentanyl, that they hold Jason Willoughby responsible for the death he caused in the case mentioned in this article. Nothing will change until people start being held accountable. The police are doing their job in arresting people and then they get to court and get off and people get angry at the police. Somethings got to change. I do hope Alex comes out a much more mature man and has learned from this.
I just have to say something.
None of your business Disney LandI just have to say something. These sentences judges are giving out for non violent drug offense is crazy. child rapist get less time than these guys. Be mad at the pharmaceutical companies that pushed all this and then cut everybody off. So now people to treat pain are now subjected to buy it off the street.
Everyone makes mistakes. Too
AnonymousEveryone makes mistakes. Too bad on the island it’s all anyone cares about. Alex is a great person.
Yes, he’s a fine upstanding
OverseasYes, he’s a fine upstanding citizen dealing a drug so powerful it can kill a person with less than a gram. If your child died of an overdose you’d be singing a much different tune.
I can't tell if this clown is
Artie Lange Hoboken, NJ and EdgartownI can't tell if this clown is being sarcastic.
So u give him 5 years but the
Brenda New BedflordSo u give him 5 years but the looser that killed my son gets only 2 1/2 years what is wrong with this picture really need to relook the law
Alex may be a polite enough
Anonymous MVAlex may be a polite enough person. But he has been a known dealer on this island for years. He’s previously been to prison for drug charges. So to say he “made a mistake” is uninformed and misleading. I do hope maybe this time he will actually learn the severity of his actions. Many overdoses have happened due to him they just may not have resulted in deaths due to narcan and the strong emergency services we have on this island.
Jason has also been a known dealer for many years. Glad the police where able to take action on this two who have gotten away with much more then these charges. Glad to see these known dealers being punished. Keep it up.
Alex didn’t kill anyone!
Anonymous Martha’s VineyardAlex didn’t kill anyone! Everyone makes there own choices in life no one was forced to do drugs. Anyone who uses Heroin knows the risks every time they touch it, there’s no mystery behind it we all know it kills and yet some of us are sick enough that it doesn’t stop us from picking up anyway. Alex made a mistake crucifying him online or in print isn’t going to change anything.
You mean to say Alex hasn’t
AnonymousYou mean to say Alex hasn’t been linked to any proven deaths. People are well aware the risk a person takes that uses drugs. But someone who continuous brings larges quantities of lethal drugs into a community isn’t something that should be taken lighty. I stated previously I hope that he will learn from this conviction for himself and the community. I don’t think it is an unreasonable thought that dealers be held accountable especially if it is not their first offense. I thought the article was kind not to bring up his previous convictions.
MCI Walpole is not a good
J rentalMCI Walpole is not a good landing spot for this guy. He is in for a rough time. Probably worst prison in MA.
According to DEA “the lethal
Mike Marcus West TisburyAccording to DEA “the lethal dose of fentanyl, and a similar drug, carfentanil, can be as small as 2,000 micrograms or just 2 mg. To paint a picture, 2 mg is equivalent to a few grains of sand, or a pinch of salt at most.”
So if he had pure fentanyl he had as many as 50,000 ‘over doses’ worth.
That is not a small amount of this drug. I hope he never sets foot on the Island again.
I noticed my last post was
Public Trust All IslandI noticed my last post was not posted? I guess I need to tone down the truth. Selling fentanyl is selling poison that is killing many kids every day. It is the same as murder. And why am I still reading about Jason Willouby as another drug dealer, slipping through Justice, for almost 15 years now. How many of our kids do we want poisoned before we lock these criminals up?
Since the state courts always
heree we go again edgSince the state courts always agree to plea bargains and light sentences, its time for the feds to step in. Its as simple as making a case of income tax evasion if someone has been selling drugs for years, and displays the trappings of financial income without reporting the same. that's how they got al capone. the feds don't mess around
Ah yes, because it’s all the
Slater MVAh yes, because it’s all the dealers fault. Sorry but “disease” or not, the user is the only one responsible for their potential death. I have at least five childhood friends who have died due to overdose. It was their decision to risk death, not the dealer who sold them the drugs. But that’s how we do it here America, always looking for someone to blame instead of taking responsibility for our own actions.
You need to educate yourself
notonislandYou need to educate yourself on addiction. It is a disease. Whether it is heroin, alcohol, gambling, etc...It is a disease. Read up about addiction before you make a comment like that.
As an alcoholic who is 10
Slater MVAs an alcoholic who is 10 years sober, I know about addiction. It was my choice to become addicted. It was my choice to stop drinking. I’m sorry if you can’t take responsibility for your own actions.
I stand by my comments. And I
Tom Engley West TisburyI stand by my comments. And I’m not anonymous There for the grace of god go us.
Slater,MV you tell it like it
Jeff Baker Prospect MaineSlater,MV you tell it like it is ! I was a heavy smoker for years
people told me to quit but i could not till I MADE THE CHOICE TO QUIT
that was my choice to start (at 12 Years old) and I quit cold turkey over
15 years ago ! If you know the rules and can pay the price you can play the game !
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