Two Roslindale residents were taken into custody on drug trafficking and firearms charges after the Boston Police Department conducted a months-long investigation.
In December, officers assigned to the E-13 (Jamaica Plain) Drug Control Unit learned that two were dealing crack cocaine and fentanyl in the Forest Hills neighborhood.
Officers identified the suspects as Brandon Weltman, 48, of Roslindale, and Ashley Benson, 40, of Roslindale, and discovered that a Washington Street apartment in Roslindale operated as both their home and the headquarters for their drug enterprise.
Investigators witnessed the couple working together, with both answering phone calls to discuss drug sales and personally delivering narcotics to purchasers on foot or by electric scooter.
On March 6, investigators secured search warrants for the suspects’ person and residence from West Roxbury District Court.
Weltman was issued an arrest warrant on March 10 for a distribution offense committed on March 4.
On March 11, officers from the E-13 and E-5 (West Roxbury) Drug Control Units set up surveillance near the Washington Street residence to carry out the warrants.
Officers saw Benson leave the house about 12:20 p.m. and get into a waiting Uber.
Officers pursued the vehicle and eventually came to a stop near the junction of Washington Street and Ukraine Way.
A search of Benson’s person turned up a black Samsung cell phone, a pair of house keys, and a vial containing one pre-packaged unit and one loose rock of crack cocaine found in the front pocket of her rucksack.
Benson was arrested for possession with intent to distribute a Class B substance.
Officers then went to the Washington Street residence, knocked, declared their presence, and gained access with the keys seized from Benson.
Inside, cops apprehended Weltman on an outstanding warrant for distribution of a Class B substance.
At 12:36 p.m., authorities searched the home.
Officers discovered a lockable black safe behind the bedroom bed and opened it using keys obtained from Benson.
Officers discovered a Hi-Point Model C9 firearm and a firearm magazine loaded with seven. 380 ACP cartridges and one 9mm Luger cartridge, a plastic bag containing crack cocaine, a plastic bag containing three bags of fentanyl and one bag of crack cocaine, a container holding three more bags of fentanyl, and a gold-colored wristwatch.
Officers also discovered a digital camouflage scale on the bedroom nightstand, a black cell phone in the bedroom, a Samsung cell phone with a blue case from Weltman in the bathroom, and two motorized scooters in the living area.
Officers at District E-13 used a department phone to dial the original phone numbers provided at the beginning of the investigation.
One number rang the Samsung phone confiscated from Weltman in the restroom, while another rang the cell phone seized from Benson during the traffic stop, directly linking both suspects to the narcotics operation’s numbers.
Weltman and Benson are expected to be charged in West Roxbury District Court.
Each was charged with trafficking fentanyl (about 54 grams), crack cocaine (roughly 36 grams), unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and unlawful possession of a firearm while committing a felony.
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