Pot dealer convicted of murdering man in dispute over sales; associate acquitted of same charge

A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted George Ortega, 32, of Lynn, of first-degree murder for the death of Steven Fuentes in Uphams Corner in 2012, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

However, the jury acquitted Anthony King Solomon of Everett of the same charge, disagreeing with prosecutors that Solomon was equally guilty even though he did not pull the trigger because he allegedly gave Ortega the murder weapon with the intent that Ortega use it.

Ortega's verdict means a sentence of life without parole.

According to prosecutors, Ortega and Fuentes got into a heated argument over pot sales on May 24, 2012, ending with Fuentes punching Ortega in the face.

The two held a second, fatal encounter later on Leyland Street in Uphams Corner, when Ortega, Solomon and other associates drove over in two cars to confront Fuentes:

Once on Leyland Street, Ortega and Fuentes agreed to a fight. The two repeatedly came within feet of one another but never came into physical contact. As they did so, each began removing articles of clothing; a surveillance camera captured Ortega removing his tank top and throwing it to the ground during the standoff.

The evidence showed that as the two combatants stripped, the man prosecutors allege was Solomon did not remove his heavy coat, despite the warm temperature that day. The evidence showed that Ortega retreated across Leyland Street to retrieve a .45 semiautomatic firearm from the man in the coat that Ortega then fired five times, striking Fuentes twice. One bullet entered the front of Fuentes’ hip; the second entered Fuentes’ back while he was in a crouching position and exited through his upper chest.

Solomon was tried for first-degree murder on the "joint venture" theory.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Judicial Court ordered a new trial for a man convicted of first-degree murder in Dorchester because the judge in the case may have left the jury with the impression that if they convicted the gunman of murder, they would automatically have to do the same for the man who provided the gun but who did not actually fire it.