Crime & Safety
Salem Man Charged In Fatal Fentanyl Overdose: Essex DA
Ericson Almonte-Rojas, 30, is accused of supplying drugs that led to the death of a person in Salem earlier this month.
SALEM, MA — A Salem man is facing drug and gun charges after he was accused of supplying fentanyl that led to the overdosed death of a person in the city earlier this month.
The Essex County District Attorney's Office said Ericson Almonte-Rojas, 30, was arrested in Lynn on Thursday and charged with fentanyl trafficking of more than 10 grams, as well as illegal firearm and stolen property possession after police said he had 25 grams of fentanyl and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol with seven rounds of ammunition reported stolen in Salem in 2020 on him at the time of the arrest.
Essex DA Paul Tucker announced the charges on Friday morning along with Salem Police Chief Lucas Miller, Peabody Police Chief Thomas Griffin and Lynn Police Chief Chris Reddy.
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"This should send a message to anyone dealing in fentanyl that you will face the consequences," Tucker said.
The Essex DA's Office said witness testimony and phone records belonging to the person who overdosed in Salem led to the charges.
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Almonte-Rojas was booked at the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in Danvers and held on $15,000 bail pending his arraignment.
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