Prov cop pleads to drug charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - While one of the Providence police officers accused in a drug trafficking ring pleaded no contest to charges, another was let off the hook.

Sgt. Steven Gonsalves and Det. Robert Enright were two of four Providence police officers charged in the state police drug sting dubbed "Operation Deception."

• Operation Deception: History of Events

During court proceedings at Providence Superior Court Tuesday morning, Gonsalves pleaded no contest to two of the four counts against him. The other two charges were dropped.

"I just want to take the time to apologize to the court. Apologize again to the attorney general's office and to the Rhode Island State Police, for putting them in this difficult situation," Gonsalves said as he addressed the court. "I would like to thank the attorney general's office and the Rhode Island State Police for their professionalism throughout the course of this investigation."

As part of a plea deal, Gonsalves will be on probation for two years and will give up his position as a Providence police sergeant.

Enright, who's been suspended without pay since his June indictment, was also due in court Tuesday. However, Assistant Attorney General Matthew Dawson told the judge prosecutors did not have enough evidence to convict Enright and that they were dropping the charges against the detective.

Enright was accused of protecting Albert Hamlin, the leader of the drug ring. Hamlin pleaded guilty to charges against him last month.

Hamlin's brother, Patrolman Robert Hamlin, was also charged in the case.

Jospeh Colanduono, a Providence narcotics detective, pleaded guilty to several charges earlier this month.

"Over the past six months, most of the cases against the 24 individuals charged in Operation Deception have been resolved," Attorney General Patrick Lynch said in a news release. "The recent dispositions in the cases against Detective Joseph Colanduono and Albert Hamlin, leading each of them to face a potential jail term of 10 years at the ACI, were major steps in bringing this prosecution to a close.

"While it might be easy to paint the police officers implicated in this investigation with a broad brush, this office has a duty to see that each defendant is treated fairly. To that end, the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Rhode Island State Police and this Office has necessitated the disposition in the case against Steven Gonsalves and the dismissal of the case against Robert Enright."

Two cases related to Operation Deception remain open. Khalid Mason, the accused drug supplier, is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Jan. 5, and Robert Hamlin has a pre-trial conference the following day.