New Bedford Drug Dealer Caught With Drugs, Gun on Probation

NEW BEDFORD — A New Bedford man on probation for multiple drugs and firearms offenses — and with seven open cases in district court — was caught on Monday with a variety of drugs and a loaded handgun, according to the city's police department.

Police said organized crime detectives searched 31-year-old Jeremiah Cowart's South First Street apartment on March 7.

They allegedly found around 128 grams of cocaine, 136 grams of fentanyl, and 11 grams of Percocet pills along with $3,396 in cash, which was seized.

Get our free mobile app

A loaded 9mm handgun with 5 rounds of ammunition was also found, police said.

Cowart is charged with a variety of offenses including trafficking more than 100 grams of cocaine and fentanyl as subsequent offenses, as well as possessing a firearm and ammunition without a license.

Police said Cowart is currently on probation at New Bedford district court until July 2023, and had seven open cases at the time of this arrest.

What police called his "extensive criminal history" includes 12 previous convictions, six of them related to firearms and drug dealing.

“Arrests like these are bittersweet to me," commented city police chief Paul Oliveira, noting that on one hand he is "extraordinarily proud" of the officers in the department.

"On the other, I am dismayed that the overall system is not functioning well enough to adjudicate cases quickly, keep offenders behind bars, and close the revolving door which continually keeps officers busy with same individuals time and time again.”