PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — More than two dozen people are facing firearm and drug-trafficking charges following a series of federal investigations in and around the city of Providence, law enforcement officials said Monday.
Over the past 18 months, state and local police have worked in conjunction with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Task Force as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, U.S. Attorney for the state of Rhode Island Stephen Dambruch announced at a joint news conference.
Twenty-six people were indicted, according to Dambruch, of which 22 were arrested, two were already in state custody on unrelated charges and arrest warrants have been issued for two more. He noted that many of the suspects are members of or associated with street gangs.
In addition, Dambruch said authorities seized more than two dozen firearms, including three AK-47 rifles and two AR-15 rifles, as well as “significant quantities” of heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and methamphetamines.
“The Department of Justice has recommitted itself to the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, with the goal of reducing violent crime, thereby making all of our communities safer,” Dambruch said. “These indictments and seizures demonstrate the significant progress federal, state and local law enforcement, working together as partners, made toward achieving that goal.”
“These arrests should send a strong warning to gang members and violent criminals who engage in gun and drug trafficking in Providence and beyond. We’re here, we’re watching, and we will not stand by and allow them to pollute our neighborhoods with guns, drugs, and crime,” Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Harold Shaw added. “The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force will continue working together with our law enforcement partners, to disrupt criminals and their networks who are promoting violence on our streets. After all, every law-abiding citizen should be free to walk down any street in any one of our neighborhoods without the fear of getting caught in the crosshairs of a violent crime.”
Below are the details of the indictments:
- Yerry Abreu-Jimenez, 26, of Providence
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Arrested 9/27/18; ordered detained in federal custody
- Syeisha Bourget, 27, of Fall River
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (2 counts)
- Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond
- Shawn Butler, 27, of North Attleboro
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (2 counts)
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (8 counts)
- Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond
- Roosevelt Dale, 30, of Providence
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (5 counts)
- Arrested 9/27/18; detained in federal custody
- Jordan Fernandes, 29, of New Bedford
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (2 counts)
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (4 counts)
- Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond
- Amado Gonzalez a/k/a “Gunz,” 24, of Pawtucket
- Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
- Unlicensed dealing in firearms
- Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond
- Emmanuel Maimen a/k/a “Black,” 24, of Providence
- Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
- Unlicensed dealing in firearms (2 counts)
- Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond
- Alain Moniz, 28, of New Bedford
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (2 counts)
- Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond
- Jason Moriera, 37, of Providence
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine
- Arrested 9/27/18; detained in federal custody
- Agustin Navedo a/k/a “Fatso,” 30, of Providence
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (4 counts)
- Unlicensed dealing in firearms
- Arrested 9/27/18; detained in federal custody
- Prince Paye, 28, of Providence
- Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
- Unlicensed dealing in firearms
- Possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances
- Arrested 9/27/18; ordered detained in federal custody
- Fernando Roche, 55, of Providence
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond
- Jean Sajous a/k/a “Beanz,” 27, of Providence
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (2 counts)
- Unlicensed dealing in firearms
- Felon in possession of firearms (2 counts)
- Presently in state custody on unrelated charges; arraignment pending
- Aaron Soe, 26, of Providence
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
- Arrested 9/27/18; ordered detained in federal custody
- Darnell Taylor, 20, of Smithfield
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (2 counts)
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (3 counts)
- Unlicensed dealing in firearms
- Felon in possession of firearms
- Presently in state custody on unrelated charges; arraignment pending
- Chanel Williams, 39, of New Bedford
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base
- Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base
- Arrested 9/27/18; detained in federal custody
- Lisa Ellis, 50, of Pawtucket
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base
- Distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base
- Distribution of cocaine base (3 counts)
- Arrested 8/16/18; released on unsecured bond
- Tariek Gill, 25, of Cumberland
- False statements during purchases of firearms (3 counts)
- Engaging business of dealing firearms without a license
- Possession of a firearm by unlawful user a controlled substance
- Arrested 8/4/18; released on unsecured bond; change of plea hearing scheduled Oct. 4, 2018
- James Gomes, 29, of Pawtucket
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base
- Distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base
- Distribution of cocaine base (3 counts)
- Arrested 8/22/18 (at ACI); detained in federal custody
- Ademola Kayode, Jr., 26, of Warwick
- False statement during purchase of firearms (3 counts)
- Possession of a firearm by user of controlled substance (3 counts)
- False statement to federal agents
- Arrested 3/26/18; released on unsecured bond; awaiting trial (November trial calendar)
- Lucilo Mena, 56
- False statements during purchases of firearms
- Engaging business of dealing firearms without a license
- Arrested 3/23/18; pleaded guilty 9/21/18; sentencing hearing scheduled on 12/21/18
- Joshua Moore, 28, of Pawtucket
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base
- Distribution of cocaine base (3 counts)
- Arrested 8/24/18; detained in federal custody
- Gerald Price, 33, of Cranston
- Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base
- Distribution of cocaine base
- Arrested 8/24/18; detained in federal custody
- Darien Young, 24, of Providence
- False statement during purchase of firearms (3 counts)
- Possession of a firearm by user of controlled substance (3 counts)
- False statement to federal agents
- Arrested 3/26/18; released on unsecured bond; awaiting trial (January 2019 trial calendar)
- Keishon Nelson, 22, of Providence
- Possession of a firearm by unlawful user a controlled substance
- Arrested 6/15/18; pleaded guilty 9/27/18; sentencing hearing scheduled on 1/11/19
Police have warrants out for the arrest of the following:
- Taylor Kelley, 24, of Providence
- Conspiracy to traffic in firearms
- Unlicensed dealing in firearms
- Indictment returned 9/20/18
- Jarrod Smith a/k/a “Champ Sosa,” 37
- Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl
- Possession with intent to distribute fentanyl
- Indictment returned 9/20/18
