WESTBOROUGH – A Worcester man faces charges after police allegedly found over 10 grams of a substance believed to be fentanyl.
Francis Mattioli, 32, has been charged with trafficking fentanyl.
Westborough police pulled over a vehicle on Turnpike Road near Longmeadow Road at 1:16 a.m. July 25.
When police ran a query of Mattioli’s name, they reportedly found that he had active warrants.
According to court documents, officers found a ball of metal Brillo, a hypodermic needle and rubber band in his pocket.
“Based on my training and experience, I know these items to be used for the consumption of illegal narcotics,” Westborough police wrote in the statement of facts.
In the trunk of the vehicle, police allegedly found a fanny pack containing about six baggies with an off-white substance they believed to be fentanyl.
Officers also found a backpack containing a cardboard carton containing three more baggies, according to the statement of facts.
Abbie Jennings, 29, of Worcester, was a passenger in the vehicle and reportedly told officers the fanny pack belonged to Mattioli.
Mattioli allegedly told officers that he owned the backpack.
According to court documents, the baggies totaled 10.25 grams.
Jennings was charged with possession of a Class A substance, according to a Westborough police press release.
Bail set for Mattioli
Mattioli was arraigned on July 25.
His bail was set at $50,000 surety bond or $5,000 cash. Court documents note that his bail was set at that amount based on the nature and circumstance of the offense, the potential penalty, his record of convictions, his present drug dependency or his record for illegal distribution and failing to appear at a court appearance.
The court documents note that Mattioli has a 10 page record and had a warrant from Ayer District Court for breaking and entering during the daytime and larceny from a building and from Gardner District Court for Possession of a Class A substance.
He was ultimately ordered to the Worcester County House of Corrections.
His pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Aug. 23.
