Boston youth baseball coach faces drug trafficking charge

A youth baseball coach at the Boston Athletic Academy in Hyde Park is facing a felony fentanyl trafficking charge, according to court records.

Bryan Mejia, 31, of Mattapan, was arrested Tuesday for allegedly selling fentanyl to an undercover Boston police officer Oct. 19, according to The Boston Globe. Mejia was allegedly smuggling the drug as part of an unnamed trafficking organization.

Since Mejia was allegedly trafficking more than 10 grams of fentanyl, the charge against him is a felony. In Massachusetts, that charge carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years, with a mandatory minimum of three-and-a-half years.

At Mejia’s arraignment Wednesday in the Roxbury division of Boston Municipal Court, he was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty, according to court records. He is due back in court Dec. 1 for a hearing and appointment of counsel.

The Boston Athletic Academy helps youth develop skills with pitching, hitting, fielding, and base running. Prior to his time there, Mejia played professional baseball in Virginia for the Fredericksburg Nationals, a Minor League team.