FedEx worker ordered held without bail on charges he flew ten pounds of meth from Las Vegas to Logan

A federal magistrate judge last week ordered a former Quincy man facing drug-distribution charges ordered held without bail pending his trial, ruling his pending charges and his past criminal record show he would prove a risk to society were he allowed to remain free.

Stephen Jean-Baptiste, 38, was arrested May 30 at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in East Boston, where he had arranged to meet a local buyer for the ten pounds of meth he allegedly had in his backpack after getting off a plane at Logan Airport, according to an affidavit by an FBI agent on the case.

The local buyer turned out to be working for the feds, who were waiting for Jean-Baptiste outside the hotel and who arrested him after he got out of a Honda Civic with hit supposedly meth-laden backpack, according to the affidavit.

Jean-Baptiste had been held in custody since his arrest pending a hearing before US District Court Magistrate Judith Dein last week. Dein then denied Jean-Baptiste's request to be released to the custody of a family friend to await trial:

The evidence before the court is that the defendant was arrested after two Confidential Sources (CS1 & CS2) engaged in controlled buys from the defendant. Specifically, in July 2023, CS1 made three controlled purchases of a total of 700 grams of fentanyl from the defendant. In May 2024, CS2 engaged in negotiations with the defendant whereby the defendant would travel from Las Vegas, Nevada to Boston, Massachusetts where he would sell CS2 ten pounds of
methamphetamine. On May 29, 2024, the defendant was arrested in Boston in the process of delivering ten pounds of methamphetamine to CS2. Thus, at this juncture the evidence against the defendant is strong.

The defendant has a lengthy criminal record, beginning as a juvenile. Of significance in 2008 he was sentenced to 10-12 years of incarceration for armed assault/home invasion. The defendant was 21 years old at the time. It was a brutal crime where the victims were bound and gagged, and the assailants had what appeared to be a firearm. After serving approximately 10 years, the defendant was released on probation. His 5 year term of probation ended early, in 2020, because of the progress he had made.

The defendant lives in Las Vegas with his girlfriend. He was working full time for Federal Express and attending college. The defendant has the support of his girlfriend and a family friend with whom he could reside if released in Massachusetts.

Given the large amount of drugs that the defendant was able to sell, it appears that he is heavily involved in drug trafficking. He sold both fentanyl and methamphetamine, both dangerous drugs. While the defendant has taken positive steps in his life, given that he engaged in the drug trade after being incarcerated for 10 years leaves the court with the conclusion that he cannot or will not comply with conditions of release. The government has met its burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions of release will reasonably assure the safety of any other person and the community. The defendant is ordered detained.

Jean-Baptiste is formally charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The first has a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; the second 10 years.

Innocent, etc.