Natick Man Linked To Fatal Overdose Faces More Federal Charges

NATICK, MA — A Natick man indicted in 2019 on federal drug charges is now facing additional charges connected to the death of a woman found in his apartment, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Rafael Ashworth, 27, was first indicted on fentanyl and methamphetamine trafficking charges in December 2019. This week, federal prosecutors upgraded the charges to one count of distribution of and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl resulting in death, and one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and heroin.

In November 2019, Natick police went to Ashworth's home in search of a Suffolk University student who had been missing for several days. Police found her dead in a bedroom in the apartment due to a likely fentanyl overdose. She and Ashworth were dating, court documents said.

During a search of Ashworth's apartment, police found about 100 grams of a "substance containing fentanyl, methamphetamine and heroin," prosecutors said.

The woman's overdose death came as Natick was seeing a marked rise in drug overdose deaths.

Ashworth, who was previously arrested and charged after a drug-related incident in Dedham, is facing a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, but possibly as many as 40 years, federal prosecutors said.