Police Find Cocaine, Cash at Property Owned by RI State Representative

Police Find Cocaine, Cash at Property Owned by RI State Representative

A man has been arrested in Providence on narcotics charges — and cocaine and cash were reportedly found by police — in a property owned by a Rhode Island State Representative, GoLocal has learned. 

According to police, narcotics detectives were investigating Dwayne Ledo, age 30, over the course of a month when they said they observed him selling cocaine throughout the city.

GoLocal on Wednesday confirmed Ledo’s residence as 17/19 Division Street, which is a building owned by Rhode Island State Representative Anastasia Williams. 

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Info Leading to Arrest

“[Detectives] learned that [Ledo] lived at 17/19 Division Street; based on that information, they obtained a warrant for Ledo, as well as his residence,” Providence Police Detectives Major David Lapatin confirmed with GoLocal on Wednesday. 

“[Ledo] was arrested on Hartford Avenue on Tuesday; police then searched the property,” said Lapatin.

According to Lapatin, detectives found cocaine, drug paraphernalia, and cash at the property on Division Street. 

City records show that Williams purchased the home at 17 Division Street in 2012 for $146,500; she transferred it to a trust in her name in 2013.

Currently, the property is assessed at $380,200. 

Lapatin said police were unaware of the building ownership.

Williams Responds

"Ledo isn’t the tenant, that’s not who I leased to," Williams told GoLocal on Wednesday. "I think he is the boyfriend of the tenant."

Williams said she was made aware of the raid on Tuesday as it was taking place. 

"I went out and identified myself. I said I’m the owner," said Williams. "The police showed excellent professionalism. They were right on. They did what they had to do."

"I wish, however, because I know they do their homework — I’m certain they knew who the property belonged to," Williams added. "What was explained to me was Ledo was arrested away from the property. The action that they took to get in, they could have notified me to gain entry. I would have been more than willing to cooperate."

Williams said the Division Street property is her only rental property, and that she had been unaware of drugs being on the premises. 

"Yes, it was owned by me, but it wasn’t where I was living," said Williams. "People do things to survive, good, bad or indifferent. I’m not responsible for the actions in any way shape or form. I was housing a tenant and her children."