'Buckles' Melise gets bail in drug rap

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A federal court judge released former Providence Highway supervisor Edward “Buckles” Melise, 61, on bail Tuesday morning in a drug case brought by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.

Federal agents arrested Melise Monday. He is accused of trying to sell more than 100 pills of OxyContin to a DEA informant.

Melise will be placed on electronic monitoring and can’t leave Rhode Island as part of the conditions of his release. A relative had to put their Johnston home up as collateral to cover the $50,000 surety.

The release was over the opposition of federal prosecutors, who said Melise is a flight risk and a danger to the community. In court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth Madden rattled off Melise’s criminal record, dating back to 1969.

Melise's attorney, well-known defense lawyer John F. Cicilline, said his client has strong ties to the community and “doesn’t have the resources to run away.”

Federal Magistrate Judge Lincoln Almond agreed to release the 60-year-old Melise, but expressed concern a nagging back problem could provide Melise access to more pain-killers. Melise told the judge he does not have a prescription for the narcotic.

• Read the criminal complaint filed against Melise

According to court filings, Melise met with a DEA informant on two occasions on November 4. The first time he allegedly sold the informant 34 pills, then later in the day, 96 pills. The second meeting, at the informant’s house, was recorded on secret cameras hidden throughout the home.

Federal investigators said in the criminal complaint, unsealed Monday, that Melise was trying to unload 180 pills. It’s unclear how Melise allegedly got his hands on the drug, but in court Tuesday, prosecutors said Melise had a prescription at one time for his back problem and the DEA was planning on questioning his doctor.

Melise was a supervisor of the highway department under former Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci’s first administration. He was sentenced to four years for extortion in 1984.