Melrose Fatal Overdose Leads To Drug Charges

MELROSE, MA — Two North Shore men were charged as a result of a federal investigation that began after a fatal opioid overdose in Melrose this year.

Yaeffry Reynoso, a/k/a Chris, 26, og Lynn, was was arrested Wednesday and appeared in federal court in Boston Thursday. He was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute at least 100 grams of heroin and at least 40 grams offentanyl, and six counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

Francisco Tavarez, a/k/a Jose, 21, was charged with one count of conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl. Tavarez remains a fugitive.

Court documents allege Reynoso sold heroin and fentanyl in the North Shore, heading a drug business that employed at least three runners, including Tavarez. Reynoso allegedly supplied the drugs that led to the fatal Melrose overdose in January 2017. Reynoso is accused of supplying the victim with heroin/fentanyl on a regular basis in 2016, as well.

Officers, working with a cooperating witness, made four controlled purchases of opioids from Reynoso this spring, and Tavarez delivered fentanyl to an undercover agent in March, court documents say.

Reynoso faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and up to 40 years in prison, a minimum of four years of supervised release and a $5 million fine. Tavarez faces no greater than 20 years in prison, a minimum of three years of supervised release and a fine of $1 million.

Melrose has at least eight fatal opioid overdoses in 2016, state data shows.