Veteran firefighter facing drug charges

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) - A Massachusetts firefighter is facing multiple drug-related charges.

Michael B. Wilson, 49, of the Attleboro Fire Department, was charged in federal court Wednesday in a criminal complaint with attempting to posses with intent to distribute oxycodone and anabolic steroids, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of oxycodone and anabolic steroids.

An affidavit of the complaint alleges that Wilson was engaged in several drug transactions with a DEA confidential source.

"We do not condone this behavior and nobody here supports it. We're all really saddened that it got to this point," Fire Chief Scott LaChance told Eyewitness News.

Wilson allegedly set up the transactions in multiple recorded phone calls with the DEA source.

Then on Feb. 1, Wilson allegedly purchased 100 oxycodone pills from the source and sold the source anabolic steroids in Wilson's home. He was arrested following the meeting.

The firefighter faces up to 20 years in prison, followed by three years supervised release and a $1 million fine if convicted of the charges.

LaChance says Wilson has been suspended without pay and says this is an isolated incident.

"This department is made up of committed individuals who are law abiding hard working people and it's important to us that we don't want anybody to believe that this is common place in the department because it's not."

This isn't the first time Wilson has been in trouble with the law. Back in 2000, he was convicted of bribery of a public official in Rhode Island.

He's also been convicted of shoplifting, breaking and entering and assault.

Wilson is scheduled for a detention hearing Friday, Feb 3.