12 Arrested for Trafficking Drugs in RI Following FBI Investigation

12 Arrested for Trafficking Drugs in RI Following FBI Investigation

Twelve people were arrested and charged with trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine in Woonsocket on Tuesday, announced United States Attorney Aaron Weisman.

See the Arrests Below

“These twelve arrests in Woonsocket should be looked upon as a warning to others: Be it in Woonsocket or in any community in Rhode Island where drug traffickers are peddling their poison and impacting the safety and quality of life in our neighborhoods, federal, state, and local law enforcement will team up and bring to bear the full-force of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative,” said Weisman.

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The Arrests

The arrests followed a four-month FBI Safe Streets Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigation.

“Today’s arrests exemplify the epitome of law enforcement agencies working together to target and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety and stability of our neighborhoods. The residents of Woonsocket have been dealing with drugs and violence for far too long and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force will continue to use all of the tools we have at our disposal to make sure the people who are peddling these poisons on our streets—many of whom are repeat, violent offenders—are held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta.

According to the U.S. Attorney, teams of federal, state, and local law enforcement agents and officers fanned out early this morning and arrested six individuals on federal criminal complaints, three individuals on state charges, and executed four federal court-authorized search warrants. Additionally, federal charges were unsealed today brought against an individual currently detained at the ACI.

Prior to Tuesday, members of the Safe Street Task Force arrested two individuals charged by way of federal criminal complaints and executed one federal court-authorized search warrant.

According to the U.S. Attorney, leading up to Tuesday’s arrests, law enforcement made nearly two dozen undercover drug purchases and seized 1,964 fentanyl pills (332.9 grams),116.2 grams of powder fentanyl, 296 grams of marijuana, 244 grams of crack cocaine, 20 grams of powder cocaine, 3 firearms, and $1,800 U.S. currency.

On Tuesday, law enforcement seized a loaded 9 millimeter handgun, and approximately 144 grams of crack cocaine and 1,094 grams of cocaine, and $10,200 in cash.

The arrested are as follows:

Charged by way of federal criminal complaint in U.S. District Court:

David Bradford, 34

Conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base

Conspiracy to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl

Possession with intent to deliver 28 grams or more of cocaine base

David Kennedy, 29

Conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base

Jason Simpson, 34

Conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base

Christopher Nieves, 34 (detained at the ACI)

Conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base

James Ruth, 31

Conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base

Gilbert Delestre, 29

Possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine

Conspiracy to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base

Sean Breton, 27

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine base

John Switzer, 37, arrested May 1, 2019

Conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl

Possession with intent to deliver and distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl

Charged in Rhode Island State Court:

Victoria Kinnecom, 24

13 counts of conspiracy to manufacture with intent to deliver a Schedule 1 substance

Trevis Woods, 30

4 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule 1substance

9 counts of conspiracy

Christopher Grondin, 29

7 counts of conspiracy

5 counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule 1 substance

Damien Drolet, 32, arrested April 3, 2019 (detained at the ACI)

Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance

This story was first published 7/2/19 3:43 PM