Former GOP RI House Candidate Was Man Arrested With Over 200 Guns

Former GOP RI House Candidate Was Man Arrested With Over 200 Guns

The man arrested this week by state and federal authorities with over 200 firearms was a former Republican candidate for Rhode Island General Assembly. 

In 2018, campaign finance records show that Ronald Andruchuk, residing at the time at 68 Mica Avenue in Cranston, filed a notice of organization to run as a Republican for the Rhode Island General Assembly in District 14. 

Records show he ran as a write-in candidate, as he did not collect or submit the necessary signatures for placement on the ballot.

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He filed two required campaign reports — 28 days before the election and 7 days before election — before voting records show that Democratic Rep. Charlene Lima won the district with 2572 votes, and “write-in” candidates garnered 102. 

Andruchuk subsequently dissolved his campaign account following the election, and has not run since. 

U.S. Attorney's Arrest Report

As GoLocal reported on Friday:

A Burrillville man was arrested on Thursday following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF) and the Burrillville Police Department that resulted in the overnight seizure of 211 firearms and rounds of ammunition during a court-authorized search of his home, according to the United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

The firearms and ammunition were allegedly discovered in the residence of Andruchuk, 37, after officers responded to his home for the ninth time in recent months to investigate reports of shots fired.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, shots were still being fired as officers arrived, several of which traveled over the heads of law enforcement, passing within four feet of the officers. Andruchuk was allegedly found to be wearing a bulletproof vest and to be carrying four firearms and methamphetamine.

A court-authorized search of the defendant’s home found 211 firearms and the thousands of rounds of ammunition strewn throughout the residence and the property he shares with his wife and three young children.

Suspect and Law Enforcement

Charging documents state that in the fall of 2021, ATF became aware that between July 2021 and November 2021, Andruchuk purchased 169 firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers. It is alleged that, when making the purchases, Andruchuk made false statements on ATF applications.  

A subsequent investigation determined that in April 2018, Cranston Police encountered Andruchuk who allegedly exhibited a strong odor of marijuana. He claimed to be a RI medical marijuana patient and presented a medical marijuana card; in August 2019, a Cranston Detective observed an alleged drug transaction between Andruchuk and another individual.

Andruchuk was detained and allegedly found to be in possession of numerous oxycodone pills, morphine, and naloxone. He allegedly admitted to purchasing the drugs and having a substance abuse problem; and in December 2021, it is alleged that two firearms, drugs, and other items were located in the drop ceiling of a bathroom inside a Millbury, MA, retail store shortly after Andruchuk vacated the restroom. One of the firearms was listed as belonging to Andruchuk, who did not have a license to possess a firearm in Massachusetts.

Andruchuk is charged by way of a federal criminal complaint with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, false statements in an application to purchase firearms, and causing false records to be kept by a federally licensed firearms dealer.