Armed Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years and a Day in Prison

Armed Heroin Dealer Sentenced to 5 Years and a Day in Prison

An armed heroin dealer was sentenced to five years and one day in federal prison on Wednesday.

Leoner Leonardo, 23, was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison sentence.

The sentencing comes after Leonardo pleaded guilty in federal court on June 27, 2018, to conspiracy to distribute heroin, distribution of heroin, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

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Leonardo was arrested by Pawtucket Police in July 2017, following a two-month investigation into Leonardo’s drug trafficking activities.

The investigation included at least 17 controlled purchases of heroin, ten of which he was charged with, totaling approximately 36.67 grams of heroin.

The Investigation

According to information presented to the Court, on July 11, 2017, Pawtucket Police, with the assistance of members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force, executed a court-authorized search of Leonardo’s residence. Leonardo was located inside a locked upstairs bedroom.

He refused verbal commands to open the door and officers and agents made a forced entry.

Leonardo was found next to a mattress on the floor of the bedroom and was arrested.

On the mattress, approximately two feet away from Leonardo, was a loaded 25-caliber semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number. The firearm safety lever was off and the hammer was cocked back, ready to fire.

Law enforcement also seized approximately 18.94 grams of heroin from the residence which was packaged or being packaged for distribution and a small amount of cash.