Drug Trafficker Who Imported Over 100 Kilos Of Cocaine Into Rhode Island Sentenced To Prison
GoLocalProv News Team
Drug Trafficker Who Imported Over 100 Kilos Of Cocaine Into Rhode Island Sentenced To Prison
Efrain Colon-Garcia, 43, and his wife, Yaniris Colon-Senquiz, 47, formerly of Woonsocket, co-led a conspiracy in which members of their extensive family received packages containing one or more kilograms of cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico, according to court documents.
These family members utilized 19 different addresses in Rhode Island and received more than 60 packages.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
About Case
According to the U.S. Attorney's office, the Colons first received less than one kilogram of cocaine per package, and the narcotics were hidden within items like clothing and toys.
As the operation expanded, the parcels grew in size, with multiple kilograms of cocaine hidden inside larger items like Bluetooth speakers and wooden wine holders. In addition to having family members receive the packages, the Colons had family collect and transport drug proceeds to New York as part of the business.
Family members were paid $1,000 per package to receive drug parcels at their own homes, and were paid between $2,000 and $5,000 per trip to drive and deliver tens of thousands of dollars in drug proceeds to New York.
The Colons were supplying cocaine to drug dealers in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Florida at the time law enforcement interrupted the organization in 2020.
U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced Efrain Colon-Garcia to 10 years in federal prison to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. Yaniris Colon-Senquiz is awaiting sentencing. The defendants pleaded guilty on September 6, 2023, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and unlawful use of a communication facility (U.S. Mail).