BOSTON — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (USAO - Massachusetts), published as received.

BOSTON – After a week-long trial, a federal jury in U.S. District Court in Boston convicted an Arlington man on drug and firearm charges on Friday, Oct. 16, 2015.

Yrvens Bain, 42, was convicted of distribution of heroin, possession with the intent to distribute heroin and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani scheduled sentencing for Jan. 12, 2016.

In February 2014, an investigation of Bain began after it was suspected that he sold the heroin involved in two suspected overdose deaths in Arlington.  Federal agents identified Bain as a long-time drug dealer who had been convicted of drug trafficking and firearm offenses on several occasions. 

Bain was on probation for a state drug dealing and firearm conviction when federal agents recorded him selling heroin mixed with fentanyl to a cooperating witness on Feb. 26, 2014 and March 21, 2014, in Waltham and Malden, respectively.

On April 1, 2014, agents arrested Bain as he left his residence on Laurel Street in Malden.  They had to take him to a nearby hospital after he swallowed heroin during the arrest.  A search warrant subsequently executed at the Laurel Street residence led to the seizure of a HiPoint .45 caliber firearm with an obliterated serial number, over 26 grams of heroin mixed with fentanyl and thousands of dollars, including $100 of money used by a cooperating witness to purchase heroin from Bain in March, 2014.  Agents also seized drug paraphernalia including plastic baggies, plastic gloves and a digital scale used to weigh and package drugs for street-level sales.

The charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition provides a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to a lifetimes in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000.  The charge of distribution and possession with the intent to distribute heroin provides a sentence of no greater than 30 years in prison, a minimum of six years and up to a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $2 million.  Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties.  Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was investigated by a Task Force comprised of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division; the Massachusetts State Police; the Arlington, Boston, Ipswich, and Somerville Police Departments; and the Essex County Sheriff’s Department.  Significant assistance was also provided the Malden Police Department and the Suburban Middlesex County Drug Task Force.

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz and Michael J. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New England Field Division, made the announcement today.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Pohl and Eugenia M. Carris of Ortiz’s Criminal Division.