South Boston man with long record and brother arrested on drug, gun charges after raids on their apartments

A man with convictions for manslaughter and armed assault to rob and his brother were arrested following raids on their apartments on East 4 Street yesterday, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

John George, 39, was ordered held in lieu of $500,000 bail at his arraignment yesterday on two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm and single counts of possession with intent to distribution a Class B drug, possession with intent to distribution a Class C drug, trafficking in heroin, possession of a firearm with a defaced serial number and reckless endangerment of a child. He was also charged as a Level II armed career criminal - which could mean longer sentences on the other charges if he's convicted - for a variety of past convictions, including manslaughter.

Kenneth George, 42, had bail set at $50,000 on charges of possession with intent to distribution a Class B drug, possession with intent to distribution a Class E drug, and operating a motor vehicle with a suspend license.

According to the DA's office and BPD records, police armed with search warrants arrived at their building between O and P streets around 5:30 p.m. yesterday:

Prior to making entry, police observed Kenneth George exit the building and drive away in a motor vehicle despite the fact that he does not have a valid driver’s license. He was stopped by police and taken into custody. At the time of his arrest, George was wanted on warrants for operating after suspension, identity fraud, and possession of a Class A drug. John George was later seen leaving the building and approached as he entered a commercial vehicle. He was found to have 27 Oxycodone pills in a baggie in his pocket, prosecutors said.

Inside a first floor unit occupied by Kenneth George, police found empty prescription bottles in the names of other individuals, six Suboxone pills, 37 Lidocaine patches, a police scanner, and a Smith & Wesson replica pellet gun.

In the third floor apartment occupied by John George, police located 253 oxycodone pills in an unlocked safe inside the closet of a bedroom occupied by children who share the residence, prosecutors said. A .22 cal revolver was found in the pocket of a sweatshirt hanging in the same closet. An additional 51 Oxycodone pills were recovered in a second bedroom, as well as 17 Gabapentin capsules and a second firearm - a H&R .38 cal revolver located in a box wrapped in men’s underwear.

He was additionally charged as a Level II Armed Career Criminal in light of prior convictions for manslaughter, armed assault with intent to rob, and other offenses, prosecutors said. Judge Michael Bolden imposed $500,000 bail and ordered George to submit to GPS monitoring, remain under house arrest, and surrender his passport in the event he is to be released on bail.