Braintree Police Charge Three with Selling Cocaine

A month-long drug investigation by Braintree police has led to the arrest of three people.

Christian Almonte, 36, of Hyde Park and Mirla L. Deleon, 25, of Dorchester were both charged with distribution of cocaine to MacDonald and conspiracy to violate the Controlled Substance Act. Almonte was additionally charged with operating after license revocation. Brian M. MacDonald, 50, of Braintree, was charged with trafficking in cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy, according to Braintree Police Chief Russ Jenkins.

On Oct. 27 shortly before 4 p.m., investigators observed a BMW occupied by Almonte and Deleon pull into the driveway of a home on Spruce Street. Almonte exited the vehicle and entered the home of MacDonald and left a few minutes later

Believing that a drug transaction occurred inside the house, detectives followed the BWM to Railroad Street where they observed what they believed to be a second drug transaction with a man sitting in a Buick Veran. As the two vehicles parted company, detectives split up and followed both vehicles. The BMW was stopped on West Street and detectives removed Almonte and Deleon from the vehicle and executed the search warrant.

$2,225 and an additional $140 were recovered from the vehicle. The operator of the Buick Veran was also stopped and confronted with the detective’s suspicions. He made admissions to the detectives that accounted for the $140 found on Almonte, but detectives suspect that upon their approach, he swallowed heroin to avoid discovery and he was later transported to South Shore Hospital for treatment. No charges have yet been filed against the driver.

Back on Spruce Street, detectives observed MacDonald, who they believe to be a secondary distributor of cocaine obtained from Almonte and Deleon, exit his home and enter a black BMW and drive off. MacDonald was stopped on Middle Street and advised that detectives had a search warrant for his home. MacDonald admitted to being in possession of cocaine and detectives recovered six paper folds, each containing a quantity of cocaine. Detectives also seized over $850 from MacDonald. A later search of MacDonald’s home by Braintree and Quincy detectives uncovered over 40 grams of cocaine, an alleged “drug ledger” and other evidence of drug dealing.

Braintree detectives, assisted by DEA task force officers from Dedham and Randolph and FBI task force officers then searched the Dedham home of Deleon, for which they also had a warrant. Seized from the home was a sum of money, 139 grams of cocaine, 19.2 grams of heroin and drug paraphernalia. The Dedham Police Department will be taking out additional charges in Dedham District Court.