Berkshire County — After prior investigations, Michael Caropreso, 50, of Becket, and George Stewart, 44, of Pittsfield, were arraigned on multiple charges on Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24.
According to a press release from the Berkshire County District Attorney’s Office, both defendants were arrested on warrants following prior investigations.
The investigations were conducted by the Pittsfield Police Department and the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force.
Caropreso was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on May 23. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Caropreso possessed approximately 56 grams of cocaine at the time of his arrest. He is charged with Trafficking in Cocaine, 36 grams or more, less than 100 grams. He is being held on $150,000 cash bail.
Stewart was arraigned in Central Berkshire District Court on May 24. When Stewart was arrested, he had approximately 300 grams of cocaine and an illegal firearm. Additionally, Stewart had an outstanding warrant at the time of his arrest. Stewart is charged with: Trafficking in Cocaine, 200 grams or more; Possession of Firearm in a Felony; Possession of a Firearm Without an FID Card; Improper Storage of a Firearm; Possession of Ammunition without an FID Card; and Firearm Violation with Three Prior Violent/Drug Crimes. Stewart is being held on $250,000 cash bail.
Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue stated in the press release, “With these two arraignments, a large amount of cocaine has been removed from the streets of Berkshire County. Michael Caropreso and George Stewart were attempting to operate large-scale drug trafficking efforts in our county. Arrests such as these allow law enforcement to significantly reduce the drugs flowing into Berkshire County. I commend the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force for their dedicated work.”
