Southie Brothers Nabbed On Drug, Gun Charges

BOSTON, MA — Two brothers from South Boston were arraigned Thursday on drug and gun charges, Suffolk County DA Dan Conley said. John George, 39, and Kenneth George, 42, were arrested following a the execution of search warrants at their separate apartments in the same East 4th Street home.

Police executed search warrants Wednesday as part of a lengthy investigation into drug activity at the apartments. Before police entered, they observed Kenneth George allegedly leaving the building and getting in a vehicle, despite not having a driver's license. He was stopped and arrested; He had warrants out for operating after suspension, identity fraud, and possession of a Class A drug.

John George was later seen leaving the building, police said. He was arrested as he entered a commercial vehicle. John George has 28 Oxycodone pills in his pocket, prosecutors said.

In Kenneth George's first floor apartment, prosecutors said police found empty prescription bottles in the names of other individuals, six Suboxone pills, 37 Lidocaine patches, a police scanner, and a Smith & Wesson replica pellet gun. In the third floor apartment occupied by John George, prosecutors said police found 253 oxycodone pills in an unlocked safe inside the closet of a children's bedroom, prosecutors said. A .22 cal revolver was found in the pocket of a sweatshirt hanging in the same closet. Fifty-one more Oxycodone pills were allegedly recovered in a second bedroom, as well as 17 Gabapentin capsules and a H&R .38 cal revolver located in a box wrapped in underwear.

John George was arraigned on two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and single counts of possession with intent to distribution a Class B drug, possession with intent to distribution a Class C drug, trafficking in heroin, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number, reckless endangerment of a child. He was additionally charged as a Level II Armed Career Criminal in light of prior convictions for manslaughter, armed assault with intent to rob, and other offenses, prosecutors said. He was held on $500,000 bail and must submit to GPS monitoring, remain under house arrest, and surrender his passport in the event he is to be released on bail.

Kenneth George was arraigned on charges of possession with intent to distribution a Class B drug, possession with intent to distribution a Class E drug, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspend license. He was held on $50,000 bail and the same conditions of release.