On Jan. 9, Hector Alecea was released from state prison after serving 15 years for heroin trafficking.

Less than three weeks later, he is back in custody, arrested during a Springfield police heroin bust.

On Thursday, Springfield narcotics detectives were investigating heroin distribution on Chestnut Street when they observed an alleged open air drug deal.

Officers arrested the customer at the scene and followed the dealer, identified as Alecea, to the corner of Bridge and Chestnut Streets. They arrested him and allegedly found 141 bags of heroin labeled "Louis Vuitton" during a search of his possessions.

And when detectives obtained a search warrant for Alecea's apartment at 70 Chestnut Street, police allegedly found another 1,300 bags of heroin.

Police discovered that Alecea had been released on Jan 9 after serving all 15 years of a sentence of heroin trafficking.

He was scheduled for arraignment Friday in Springfield DIstrict Court on charges of heroin trafficking, distribution and possession with intent to distribute, as well as violation of a drug free school zone.