District of Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.

Carlos Rodriguez, 32, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Rodriguez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 18, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  

Rodriguez faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years imprisonment, a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment, and a term of at least four years to life of supervised release 

According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Safe Streets Task Force was conducting an investigation into drug trafficking in and around the Providence area and, during the investigation, law enforcement determined that Rodriguez and his co-conspirators were involved in the distribution of fentanyl pills. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task Force. 

The Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, the Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man and previously convicted felon pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to multiple firearm and drug offenses.

Luis Martinez, 47, of Providence, pleaded guilty to three counts of the sale or transfer of a firearm to a prohibited person; two counts of distribution of cocaine; three counts of distribution of cocaine base; four counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm; one count of possession with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base; one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Court records reflect that Martinez was previously convicted in Rhode Island state courts on felony firearm and drug trafficking charges and was serving a term of state probation at the time of his arrest in this matter on May 7, 2025. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.

The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Providence Police Department Narcotics Unit.

PROVIDENCE – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island recognizes Providence Police Department Lieutenant Patrick Potter as a “Hometown Hero” for his courageous actions during the Brown University shooting incident.

Lt. Potter was honored during an award presentation held Thursday at the United States Attorney’s Office in Providence.

As the first supervising officer to enter the engineering building during the Brown University shooting, Lt. Potter acted without knowing whether the shooter remained inside the building. His swift response and leadership during a rapidly evolving and dangerous situation helped protect lives and support the ongoing emergency response.

“Lt. Potter demonstrated extraordinary courage, professionalism, and commitment to public safety during an incredibly dangerous and uncertain situation,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.  “His actions reflect the very best of law enforcement service and exemplify the spirit of community protection recognized through the Hometown Hero program.”

The recognition was presented as part of the Department of Justice’s Freedom 250 initiative, a nationwide effort in which United States Attorneys’ Offices across the country recognizes individuals whose service, courage, leadership, and commitment have made a meaningful impact in their communities in advance of America’s 250th anniversary.

The award presentation was attended by members of the Providence Police Department, Lt. Potter’s family, and representatives of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island.

PROVIDENCE – A Rhode Island woman who served as the bookkeeper and administrator for a family-owned landscaping business has been charged in federal court with failing to truthfully account for and pay over payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

According to court documents, Nikola Francis, 29, of Bristol, RI, was responsible for managing the finances of ELJ Inc., a Rhode Island family-owned business in Bristol, RI.  Francis is charged with failure to withhold or pay employment taxes.

Court documents allege that Francis approved payments, paid bills, maintained accounting ledgers, accessed corporate bank accounts, managed payroll, and was responsible for accounting for and paying taxes withheld from employee paychecks.

Court documents further allege that from 2020 through 2025, ELJ Inc. withheld federal income taxes, Medicare taxes, and Social Security taxes from employee paychecks but failed to pay those taxes over to the IRS. The business failed to file Employer’s Quarterly Federal Income Tax Return, or Form 941. The tax loss is approximately $787, 941.

A federal information is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S Attorney Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the IRS.

PROVIDENCE- Two individuals have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from their operation of a business that provided services to customers engaged in widespread telemarketing and tech-support fraud schemes targeting victims throughout the United States and abroad.

Former CEO Adam Young, 42, of Miami, FL, and former CSO Harrison Gevirtz, 33, of Las Vegas, NV, admitted to operating a business that provided telecommunications-related services, including telephone numbers, call routing services, call tracking, and call forwarding services, to customers they knew were engaged in tech-support fraud schemes. Young and Gevirtz each pleaded guilty to misprision of a felony, in violation of federal law. They are scheduled to be sentenced on June 16, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Young and Gevirtz pleaded guilty after an investigation beginning in 2020 that led to the conviction of five India-based telemarketing fraudsters and a former employee of their call routing company.  Indian citizens Sahil Narang, Chirag Sachdeva, Abrar Anjum and Manish Kumar, were convicted of charges related to telemarketing fraud schemes based in the Republic of India that targeted and defrauded Americans of millions of dollars, many of them vulnerable to fraud schemes due to age or infirmity.  The investigation also contributed to the conviction of another individual, Jagmeet Singh Virk, in the U.S. District Court for the Norther District of California. The investigation further revealed that call centers based in India utilized Young and Gervitz’s business to route their “tech fraud” scheme calls and, in some instances, advised those fraudsters on methods intended to reduce complaints and prevent account terminations.

According to court documents, from approximately 2016 through 2022 Young, Gevirtz, and others knew that some of their customers were engaged in tech-support fraud schemes. The schemes used deceptive pop-up messages to convince computer users that their computer had been infected with viruses or malware. Victims were directed to call a phone number on the pop-up message or advertisement, which connected the victims to call centers, where they were persuaded to pay hundreds of dollars for unnecessary or fictitious technical-support services.  In some instances, call center agents remotely accessed victims’ computers and obtained personal and financial information.

From 2017 through April 2022, after learning of their customers’ fraud schemes, Young and Gevirtz failed to report the schemes to law enforcement officials. According to statements filed with the court, the defendants received numerous complaints and inquiries from telephone providers and law enforcement concerning customers engaged in tech-support fraud.  Despite that knowledge, they advised some of their customers about techniques the customers could use to avoid complaints by fraud victims and prevent account termination. Young and Gevirtz assisted some of those customers to buy and sell fraud calls amongst themselves.

Young and Gevirtz themselves owned and operated a call center in Tunisia from 2016 through April 2022 where some employees engaged in tech-support fraud.

"What the CEO and CSO of this well-known call tracking and analytics company did was downright despicable. By their own admission, they willfully profited from telemarketing and tech support scammers, here and abroad, who preyed on the elderly, exploited the vulnerable, and drained victims of their life savings and peace of mind. Behind every fraudulent call was a real person left frightened, humiliated, or financially shattered,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Tech support scams cost Americans $2.1 billion last year, and Rhode Islanders reported losing at least $5.7 million. Let this be a warning: if you fuel and support these criminal networks that prey on unsuspecting consumers, the FBI will pursue you relentlessly to ensure you’re held accountable for the harm you helped inflict.”

 Court documents further reflect that the defendants directed employees to promote their company’s services to customers engaged in tech-support fraud and, at times, introduced customers involved in the fraudulent activity with others who could support their fraudulent business. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Milind Shah, Sandra Hebert, Julianne Klein, and Lee Vilker.

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for illegally reentering the United States after having been removed.

Victor Lemus Davida, 44, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to time served. 

According to court documents, Lemus Davida, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on June 8, 2022, pursuant to an order of removal.  He later entered the United States without obtaining permission from the Attorney General to reapply for admission.

Lemus Davida was arrested on February 5, 2026, in Pawtucket, Rhode Island and pleaded guilty to a charge of illegal reentry in March 2026.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sandra R. Hebert.

The matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

PROVIDENCE – A Cranston man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island for falsely represented himself as a financial advisor worth a “million dollars in clients.”

Jason Johnson, 53, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Johnson was indicted in March 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2026.  The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to court documents, Johnson falsely represented himself as a financial advisor and accepted approximately $140,000 from a Rhode Island couple through the now-defunct W.S. Solutions LLC. Johnson diverted much of the investment funds into two bank accounts he controlled and spent most of the couple’s invested funds on personal expenditures.

Johnson failed to respond to repeated inquiries from the investors. Additionally, he failed to provide them with statements of investment activity, tracking reports, or summaries. Instead, he sent electronic communications assuring them that their accounts were being serviced and they would receive distributions of profits at a later date.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Lee H. Vilker.

The matter was investigated jointly by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

PROVIDENCE – A Woonsocket man was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for receiving, possessing, and accessing with intent to view child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Jerry Lee Davenport, 51, was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to ten years of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. He was ordered to pay $6000 restitution to the victims.

Davenport pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025, to possessing child pornography.

According to court documents, in March 2023, members of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information that Davenport had received and viewed images containing child sexual abuse material. During a search of Davenport’s Woonsocket residence, law enforcement located several thumb drives in a locked drawer in Davenport’s bedroom containing numerous images of CSAM.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.

The matter was investigated by members of Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc

To report suspected online child sexual exploitation and/or abuse, call the Know2Project Tipline at 1-833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline® at https://report.cybertip.org/

PROVIDENCE- A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned a four-count indictment charging Felipe Almonte Polanco, 57, of Providence, with wire fraud, theft of public money, false representation of a Social Security number, and aggravated identity theft related to an alleged scheme to fraudulently obtain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits using the identities of deceased and other individuals.

According to information presented to the court, investigators with the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General and the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit and Program Integrity began investigating fraudulent applications submitted in the identity of a deceased individual. The investigation determined that Polanco submitted fraudulent SNAP applications in the names of multiple victims, including a deceased individual, and used the benefits cards to conduct transactions at stores in Rhode Island. Almonte Polanco was previously convicted in the Western District of New York of making false statements in connection with a passport application and aggravated identity theft.

 The indictment alleges that between October 2021 and April 2026, Polanco made balance inquiries on Rhode Island EBT cards associated with the stolen identities of at least 18 individuals and personally used cards issued in the names of at least nine victims. During the execution of a search warrant at Polanco’s residence, investigators recovered multiple EBT cards and materials used to create identification cards. The scheme resulted in Polanco receiving approximately $69,000 in fraudulent SNAP benefits. 

A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan and Special Assistant United States Attorney John M. Moreira.

The matter was investigated by the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Rhode Island Office of Internal Audit and Program Integrity, and the Rhode Island Department of Human Services. 

The following may be attributed to First Assistant United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda:

“Yesterday, a report appeared in both local and national media pertaining to U.S. District Judge Melissa DuBose of the District of Rhode Island and her decision to release Bryan Rafael Gomez in connection with a habeas petition seeking his release. Those media accounts erroneously state that Judge DuBose made the decision to release him with knowledge that authorities in the Dominican Republic had issued an arrest warrant in connection with a homicide in that country.

As our recent filing in this matter makes clear, Judge DuBose did not have knowledge at the time of her ruling that Gomez was wanted by authorities in the Dominican Republic.”

The Court’s Order to Show Cause is attached.

PROVIDENCE – Three Nigerian nationals have been charged in federal court in Rhode Island for their roles in an alleged online romance and wire fraud scheme.

William Elvis, 35, Moses Kolawole Hezekiah, 34, and Destiny Okobeni Oghentega, 30, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

According to court documents, beginning in or around early 2021, Elvis, Hezekiah, Oghentega, and others engaged in a scheme to defraud individuals through online impersonation and romance-based scams.  Victims, including an elderly Rhode Island resident, were contacted by individuals who falsely portrayed themselves as professionals working overseas and, over time, developed relationships with them. 

The conspirators then made repeated requests for money under false pretenses, including claims of financial hardship, legal issues, or medical emergencies. Victims were directed to send funds through gift cards, Bitcoin transactions, and other means, including transfers to accounts controlled by participants in the scheme.

Victims sent substantial sums of money over the course of the scheme. The investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) determined that the identities used were misappropriated, used without the individuals’ knowledge, and that communications and financial activity were traced to the defendants in Nigeria.

A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.

The matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The mission of the Elder Justice Initiative is to support and coordinate the Department’s enforcement and programmatic efforts to combat elder abuse, neglect and financial fraud and scams that target our nation’s older adults. Learn more about the Justice Department’s efforts to protect older Americans from exploitation here.  

“Effective today, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has appointed me Special Attorney and First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island.  I am grateful to the Acting Attorney General and the Trump administration for their continued support in allowing me to lead the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island. While my title may have changed, my goals and the mission of this Office have not.

Since I was appointed in December, 2025, I have endeavored to run the Office at the highest levels of efficiency, integrity and professionalism. The Court’s Order acknowledges those same goals for the Office and in declining to exercise its appointment authority, that the Office’s continued professionalism and non-partisan work, along with continuity of leadership, are paramount to ensuring the Office remains focused on the best interests of the people of Rhode Island.

The support of the Administration, this Office, my colleagues, my family, and my friends, are what enable me to continue my service to the people of Rhode Island. Without that support, my service would be ending today.  Instead, that support has been overwhelming, and I intend to continue to lead this Office in my new role unless directed otherwise by the President or the Department of Justice.

We have a great deal of work ahead, and I will remain focused on keeping Rhode Islanders safe and secure from those who wish to do harm. For however long I serve this District, I will continue to work alongside our federal, state, and local partners for the betterment of our state.  Dulce Donovan, formerly the First Assistant United States Attorney, has been appointed Executive Assistant United States Attorney.  All other supervisory personnel remain in the same positions with the same titles.”

PROVIDENCE – A Honduran national previously deported from the United States has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to illegal re-entry, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Pedro Marquez Benetiz, 56, pleaded guilty today to one count of illegal re-entry after deportation and was also sentenced to time served.

According to information presented to the court, Marquez Benetiz was deported from the United States in January 2020. In June 2025, he was arrested by law enforcement on a charge of simple assault. Immigration officers subsequently determined his presence in the United States through an automated biometric fingerprint match.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.

The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man who trafficked fentanyl on behalf of a Mexican drug supplier was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Willys Enrique Santana Ramirez aka Juan Adorno, 48, was sentenced on April 15, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 84 months of imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release.

“Fentanyl continues to devastate our communities, leaving a trail of addiction, loss, and shattered families in its wake,” said United States Attorney Calenda. “Those who traffic this deadly substance are not just breaking the law, they are fueling a crisis that is claiming lives at an alarming rate. Our office remains committed to relentlessly pursuing and prosecuting those who profit from this destruction.”

On February 14, 2025, Santana Ramirez pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to court documents, an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) determined that Santana Ramirez participated in a drug trafficking conspiracy with his brother-in-law, distributing both fentanyl powder and pills containing fentanyl which were designed to resemble a legitimate prescription medication, oxycodone.  As part of the investigation, Santana Ramirez arranged the delivery of approximately 900 pills in exchange for $45,000.

Santana Ramirez’s co-conspirator, Watly Federico Valenzuela Ruiz, was sentenced on April 10, 2024, to five years in federal prison. Both were arrested on September 7, 2021, by DEA Drug Task Force Agents.  The investigation resulted in the seizure of 8,964 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills with a net weight of 1,012.9 grams of fentanyl; 4.475 grams of fentanyl powder; and 892.3 grams of fentanyl.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.

The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA; Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation; Rhode Island State Police; Cranston Police Department; Middletown Police Department; Newport Police Department; Pawtucket Police Department; Providence Police Department; Warwick Police Department; Woonsocket Police Department; and Amtrak Police.

PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda announces the appointment of Jacqueline F. Dagle as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island.

“Jacqueline Dagle is a skilled advocate with significant litigation experience and a strong record of public service,” said United States Attorney Calenda. “She brings extensive experience handling complex matters, the ability to manage demanding caseloads, and a commitment to the rule of law. She will be a strong asset to our Civil Division and the office’s mission.”

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Dagle served as a Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program, where she litigated civil enforcement matters and handled bankruptcy-related proceedings.  In that role, she managed a high-volume caseload, appeared regularly before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and conducted legal analysis of complex financial matters.

Dagle previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Diane Finkle of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Rhode Island, where she conducted legal research and drafted memoranda, orders, and decisions. She also served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Scott L. Kafker of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Earlier in her career, Dagle gained experience at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Civil Rights Unit, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

Dagle earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from New England Law, Boston, where she was a Rappaport Fellow and a member of the Mock Trial Team.  She also received a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Rhode Island.

Dagle is admitted to practice in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national and Rhode Island resident has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy that involved shipping 10 parcels of cocaine and fentanyl to Rhode Island through two different private commercial mail carriers, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Nelson Reyes Luciano, 41, was sentenced on April 16, 2026 by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 78 months of imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release and a $300 special assessment.

“Trafficking fentanyl and cocaine is a dangerous and deliberate act that claims lives within Rhode Island and communities throughout our country,” said United States Attorney Calenda. “This sentence should send a clear message to those who chose to engage in this type of criminal conduct that we will investigate, prosecute, and hold them accountable. I commend the dedicated prosecutors in our office, along with our law enforcement partners, for their relentless efforts in this case and their continued work in removing dangerous criminals from our streets and bringing them to justice.”

According to court documents, over a six-week period beginning in February 2022, Reyes Luciano shipped multiple packages containing cocaine and fentanyl from California to the Providence, Rhode Island home of co-conspirator Rosangeles Bueno. Bueno was charged and convicted in a separate case in the District of Rhode Island, No. 22-cr-00090-WES-PAS.

The defendant and co-conspirator Bueno regularly communicated about the shipments of the drugs sent to her home and her receipt and storage of the drugs. During execution of a court-authorized search warrant at Bueno’s home, law enforcement found cocaine and fentanyl as well as scales, baggies, presses, molds, and respirators that are used for packaging drugs for distribution. Reyes Luciano is responsible for the receipt of approximately eight kilograms of cocaine and 2.2 kilograms of fentanyl.

Reyes Luciano pleaded guilty on December 9, 2025 to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and cocaine.

“This sentence puts Reyes Luciano’s drug trafficking aspirations to an end. Reyes Luciano and his co-conspirator attempted to use commercial mail carriers to bring dangerous drugs into Rhode Island, but through the vigilance of these companies, their scheme was exposed. HSI is partnering with local, federal, and private sector partners to take on the challenge of drug trafficking on all fronts,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Denise M. Barton and Stacey A. Erickson.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with the assistance of the DEA, and Warwick, Newport, Central Falls, and Providence Police Departments. 

PROVIDENCE – A California man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to charges related to a scheme in which he made hundreds of obscene and threatening telephone calls to women in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and elsewhere, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Justin Glauthier, 30, pleaded guilty to four counts of stalking through cellular and internet communications. He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 6, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to court documents, Glauthier repeatedly called and harassed women whose names, photographs, and other personal information he obtained from the internet.

At the time of his arrest, at least nine women had been identified as receiving harassing and threatening phone calls that a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation determined were made by Glauthier. In dozens of calls to victims, Glauthier made sexually explicit comments, sometimes claimed to know where they lived and/or worked, and threatened to visit them unannounced at their homes or places of employment if they did not remain on the phone with him or cooperate during the calls.

Glauthier was arrested in Anaheim, California on March 5, 2025, by agents from the FBI’s Providence and Orange County, California, Resident Agencies.

The case is being prosecuted in the District of Rhode Island by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton, with the assistance of Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Restrepo in the District of Central California.

The matter was investigated by the FBI. 

PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment charging Enrique Chavez-Salas, 60, of Utah, with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

According to court documents, in November 2025, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Task Force Officers began investigating Chavez-Salas for his role in coordinating the distribution of multi-kilogram quantities of cocaine to Rhode Island.

As part of the investigation, arrangements were made for the delivery of approximately 30 kilograms of cocaine. During a subsequent meeting related to the planned transaction, Chavez-Salas arrived driving a tractor trailer truck and carrying a large black duffel bag. He engaged in a conversation regarding payment for the narcotics before being taken into custody.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the DEA and the participating task force agencies.

A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment charging Andrew Urbano Perez, 34, of Florida, with possession with intent to distribute approximately 14 pounds of methamphetamine, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

According to court documents, in December 2024, a Warwick police officer assigned to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)Task Force stopped a rental vehicle with Florida license plates operated by Urbano Perez. A K-9 working with law enforcement alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of approximately 14 pounds of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside the vehicle and Urbano Perez was taken into custody.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the DEA and the participating task force agencies.

A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PROVIDENCE – An Irish national who was living unlawfully in the United States was sentenced today in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a scheme to defraud homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

John O’Brien, 28, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to 56 months in federal prison. He is expected to be deported following the completion of his sentence. O’Brien pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025, to wire fraud.

“John O’Brien’s scheme was not just fraudulent, it was predatory.  He deliberately targeted homeowners and exploited their trust for personal and financial gain,” said United States Attorney Calenda. “This case reflects a broader pattern of individuals known as ‘Traveling Conmen’ who cross state lines for the purpose of defrauding victims. Individuals who engage in this kind of calculated deception should expect to be aggressively investigated and prosecuted in federal court.  This office will continue to prioritize protecting individuals from this type of premeditated scheme. Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of O’Brien’s conduct and the harm it causes to victims.”

“O’Brien preyed on unsuspecting homeowners in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by posing as a skilled tradesman and contractor—someone they could trust. Instead, this conman fleeced homeowners of upwards of $1 million while inflicting substantial damage to their homes. In one case, O’Brien, an illegal immigrant from Ireland, used his origin to build rapport with an elderly veteran in Warwick, Rhode Island over their shared Irish heritage only to extort him for tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary home repairs,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey Grimming. “These scammers actively manipulate homeowners’ emotions, and anyone can be a victim. We urge homeowners to be wary of anyone offering unsolicited services and, most importantly, to come forward if they’ve been victimized. After today’s sentence, O’Brien will serve serious federal prison time and be subsequently deported.”

Colonel Michael Lima of the Warwick Police Department stated, “This case is a direct result of the exceptional work of our detectives and the strong partnerships we’ve built with our local, state, and federal law enforcement colleagues. Their persistence, attention to detail, and commitment to protecting our community ensured that a sophisticated and predatory scheme was thoroughly investigated and brought to justice.”

As outlined in court documents, O’Brien and his co-conspirators induced homeowners to pay for home repairs that were unnecessary and often not completed. O’Brien falsely claimed structural problems, overstated repair needs, and misrepresented the necessity of services, as well as the qualifications of his purported construction companies, including Traditional Masonry & Construction.

In some instances, O’Brien initially performed or recommended minor repairs before falsely claiming that additional, more extensive work was urgently needed, significantly increasing the cost to homeowners.

O’Brien’s fraud scheme came to the attention of law enforcement when an 83-year-old Warwick resident, identified in court documents as Victim 1, contacted the Warwick Police Department to report that he had been defrauded by a contractor. Victim 1 reported that O’Brien told him that, while doing work in the neighborhood, he observed cracks in Victim 1’s foundation.

O’Brien offered to repair the damage to the foundation and collected $9,500 from Victim 1. As work proceeded, O’Brien claimed that further damage was discovered. O’Brien revised the costs for repairs and sought an additional $80,000 from the victim. A home inspector hired by the United States Attorney’s Office later reviewed the property and found no evidence of a need for these extensive foundation repairs.

At the change of plea hearing on December 11, 2025, O’Brien admitted to defrauding property owners of over $1.5 million between July 2021 and March 2025.

The scheme O’Brien executed is becoming increasingly common throughout the United States. According to the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Center, the Traveling Conmen Fraud Group has been recognized as a Transnational Organized Crime group.  Members are typically groups of Irish or U.K. nationals who entered the United States on pleasure or tourist visas and overstayed their visits or, more commonly, entered the United States illegally.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor A. Dean and Sandra R. Hebert.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Warwick and East Providence Police Departments.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Rhode Island comprises agents and officers from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Department of Labor-Office of Inspector General, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Intelligence & Analysis, and Rhode Island Police Departments in Warwick, Newport, Providence, East Providence, and Lincoln, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island.

PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national illegally residing in the United States has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for engaging in a years-long scheme in which he used stolen identities to fraudulently obtain Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and unemployment benefits, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Jesus Matos Perez, 52, pleaded guilty today to illegal entry, false representation of a Social Security number, health care fraud, and wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2026.  The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to court documents, for approximately ten years, Matos Perez used the stolen identities of two American citizens, including dates of birth and social security numbers to obtain $75,000 in combined Medicaid SNAP, and unemployment benefits. Matos Perez was taken into custody on October 1, 2025.

The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.

The matter was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Homeland Security Investigations

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

PROVIDENCE –Two individuals have pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for their roles in orchestrating and executing a transnational fraud and money laundering scheme targeting elderly victims in the United States and Canada, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Fangzheng Wang, 25, of Westborough, MA, a Chinese national and Cynthia Jia Sun, 25, of Houston, TX, a naturalized United States citizen born in China pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Sun and Wang are both scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to court documents, Wang and Sun were part of a transnational fraud scheme targeting elderly victims in the United States and Canada.

Members of the conspiracy used pop-up messages and telephone calls falsely claiming that the victims’ financial accounts had been compromised or were at risk.  The pop-up message contained information that directed victims to call a “live agent,” who informed the victims that their financial assets were at risk or could be garnished, but that they, the agent, could assist in protecting their assets.

During a series of calls, victims were connected with other persons who falsely claimed to be “representatives” of the victim’s financial institutions and/or government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission and Federal Reserve Bank.  Those “representatives” were, in fact, members of the conspiracy.  Some victims were told to transfer their funds via wire transfers and cryptocurrency into accounts controlled by conspiracy members.

Other victims were directed to withdraw cash or purchase gold bars with withdrawn cash and provide the cash or gold bars to a purported government courier, after being told that the courier would transfer the cash or gold to a secure government location until the issue with the victims’ accounts was resolved.

Wang and Sun participated in the scheme by communicating and coordinating with co-defendants to make pickups of cash and gold from victims, traveling to the victims’ residences and picking up the cash and gold from the victims, and thereafter transporting and transferring the victims’ cash and gold to other conspiracy members.

At the time of the indictment, law enforcement had identified approximately 300 individuals in at least 37 states, including several in Rhode Island, who have been defrauded. To date, victims of the conspiracy group of which Wang and Sun were members are estimated to have suffered known losses exceeding $5 million. However, investigators have identified a bank account through which approximately $16 million in additional suspected fraud funds appear to have been laundered.

The charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, followed by a term of supervised release, and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Denise M. Barton.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Providence and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, as part of the Rhode Island Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF), a multi-agency task force focused on intelligence-driven, multi-jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment charging the Kelvin German Luperon De Jesus with attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Luperon De Jesus, 32, is charged with one count of attempted possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. He was arrested in October 2025. An arraignment date in federal court on the indictment is not yet scheduled.

According to court documents, on October 14, 2025, Luperon De Jesus attempted to obtain a package that was shipped from California to Rhode Island and contained fentanyl. The package was flagged as being suspicious and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents tested the contents and determined that the package contained approximately one kilogram of fentanyl.

Two days later, the defendant was arrested by DEA agents as part of an undercover investigation.

If convicted, the charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years of imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman.

The matter was investigated by the DEA.

A federal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PROVIDENCE, RI – A Pawtucket man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence to one count of possession of child pornography, including hundreds of images and videos of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

William Dickson, 61, of Pawtucket, pleaded guilty on March 27, 2026 to one count of possession of child pornography. Dickson will be sentenced on July 13, 2026. The sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  He faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years.

According to court documents, law enforcement identified an online peer-to-peer file sharing account used by Dickson to download and share CSAM.  On April 10, 2024, federal agents executed search warrants on Dickson’s residence, person, and vehicle, where they seized multiple electronic devices.

A forensic analysis of the defendant’s devices revealed approximately 820 images and 20 videos depicting CSAM.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White.

The case was investigated by the FBI.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit justice.gov/PSC

PROVIDENCE – An Exeter man was sentenced today in federal court in Rhode Island for his role in a bank fraud scheme and being a felon in possession of ammunition, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Edmilson Rodrigues, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 46 months in prison for conspiracy to commit bank fraud and being a felon in possession of ammunition, and an additional 12 months to be served consecutively for violations of supervised release, for a total of 58 months’ imprisonment.  Rodrigues previously pleaded guilty to the charges on December 19, 2025.

“Rodrigues’ decision to engage in yet another check fraud scheme while on supervised released reflects a blatant disregard for the law and for the victims he chose to exploit,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This office will not hesitate to hold accountable those who repeatedly prey on others for personal gain and we will continue to work alongside our law enforcement partners to protect the public.”

According to court documents, Rodrigues participated in a multi-year scheme involving stealing mail and generating counterfeit checks. Initially participating in depositing fraudulent checks and withdrawing funds, he later recruited others to do the same, exposing them to potential criminal liability and causing financial harm.

Court documents also reflect Rodrigues engaged in related conduct connected to the broader scheme, including travelling outside the area and using false identifying information. His actions were part of an ongoing pattern of fraudulent activity that extended beyond a single transaction.  

“Rodrigues was still on supervised release for check fraud when he chose to return to his criminal ways and launch yet another check fraud conspiracy. He not only stole checks from the mail but also recruited others to join in his scheme to steal the hard-earned money of innocent people to enrich himself. This repeated disregard for the law has earned him several more years in federal prison,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “Fraud and financial crime are a top priority for HSI and we’re working alongside our law enforcement partners to help Rhode Islanders keep their money safe.”

Rodrigues has prior federal convictions for similar fraud-related conduct.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine Lowell and Denise Barton.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance of the Providence and Newport Police Departments.

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man involved in a drug trafficking investigation pleaded guilty today in federal court to a cocaine possession with intent to distribute charge, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Charles Lassiter, 32, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The charge carries a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a maximum fine of $1,000,000.

According to court documents, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force conducted an investigation into narcotics trafficking that identified Lassiter as involved in cocaine distribution.

On December 7, 2023, agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at Lassiter’s residence and seized approximately 47 grams of cocaine.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

The Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. 

PROVIDENCE – A Guatemalan national pleaded guilty on March 24, 2026 in federal court in Rhode Island to illegally reentering the United States after having been removed, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Victor Lemus Davida, 44, admitted that he returned to the United States after having been previously removed. Lemus Davida is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  He faces a sentence of up to 2 years in prison, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to one year of supervised release.

According to court documents, Lemus Davida, a citizen of Guatemala, was previously removed from the United States on June 8, 2022, pursuant to an order of removal.  He later entered the United States without obtaining permission from the Attorney General to reapply for admission.

Lemus Davida was arrested on February 5, 2026 in Pawtucket, RI.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Sandra R. Hebert.

The matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

PROVIDENCE – A Central Falls man involved in narcotics trafficking pleaded guilty today in federal court to distribution of fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Christian Carrion, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of fentanyl. Carrion is scheduled to be sentenced on June 25, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years in prison, up to a $10M fine, and a mandatory minimum of four years of supervised release.

According to court documents, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force conducted an investigation that identified Carrion as involved in fentanyl distribution. As part of that investigation, Carrion sold approximately 56 grams of fentanyl to another individual in May 2025. A search warrant executed at Carrion’s residence approximately two weeks later also resulted in the seizure of cocaine.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julianne Klein and Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

The Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. 

PROVIDENCE – United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda today announced the appointment of Dulce Donovan to First Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island. A veteran federal prosecutor, Ms. Donovan will serve as the office’s second-in-command and oversee day-to-day operations, including criminal prosecutions, civil litigation, and administrative functions across the district.

Ms. Donovan succeeds Assistant United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom, who served as First Assistant United States Attorney and Acting United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island from February 2025 to March 2026.

“I would like to thank Sara Bloom for her outstanding service to this office and the people of Rhode Island,” said United States Attorney Calenda. “Her leadership, professionalism, and commitment to justice have had a lasting impact, and we are grateful for her many contributions.”

Ms. Donovan has served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Rhode Island since 2001 and brings more than two decades of experience prosecuting complex criminal matters, including fraud and other white-collar offenses. She currently serves in the Criminal Division and has led significant investigations and prosecutions involving financial crimes, health care fraud, and public corruption. From 2023 to 2025, she served as Assistant General Counsel in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys in Washington, D.C., advising United States Attorneys offices nationwide on employment, ethics, and compliance matters.

Leadership Team

Stacey A. Erickson will continue in her role as Criminal Chief.  She joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in August 2019 and has prosecuted violent crime, human trafficking, complex fraud, and narcotics trafficking cases. She has also served as the office’s Homeland Security Lead Task Force Attorney, the former Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and Human Trafficking Coordinator. She was named Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division in 2022.  Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Erickson served as a state prosecutor in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for 25 years.

John P. McAdams has been appointed as Deputy Criminal Chief. He has served as a federal prosecutor since 2002 and most recently served as the Senior Litigation Counsel (SLC) for the District of Rhode Island. He has previously served in senior roles with the Department of Justice’s Tax Division. Mr. McAdams also served as a Trial Attorney and as a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Former Criminal Division Chief Lee Vilker will assume the role of Senior Litigation Counsel, where he will assist prosecutors with complex investigations and cases, and provide training and mentorship to attorneys within the Criminal Division. A federal prosecutor for more than two decades, Mr. Vilker has handled complex white-collar cases and prosecuted a wide range of criminal conduct. He was recognized with the Attorney General’s Director Award for his work on a high-profile multimillion dollar fraud prosecution.

Kevin M. Bolan will continue to serve in his role as Civil Division Chief, overseeing the United States’ civil litigation, including defensive matters and affirmative civil cases. Prior to joining the office in 2023, Mr. Bolan was a partner at White & Case, LLP, where he handled complex civil and criminal matters.

Lauren S. Zurier continues to serve as Chief of Appeals, a position she has held since December 2019. Ms. Zurier litigates the district’s criminal cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She previously served as an appellate prosecutor for over two decades in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office.

“This leadership team is defined by experience, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice,” said United States Attorney Calenda. “I am confident they will continue to lead this office with strength and purpose as we confront complex criminal activity, protect our communities, and carry out our mission on behalf of the people of Rhode Island.”

PROVIDENCE – A Pawtucket man who pleaded guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography was sentenced today in federal court, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Gary Ethier, 60, was sentenced by U.S District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 15 years of imprisonment to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.  Ethier previously pleaded guilty on December 1, 2025. 

“Individuals who distribute child sexual abuse material play a direct role in the ongoing abuse and exploitation of children,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This 15-year sentence reflects the seriousness of these crimes and sends a clear message that these offenses will be aggressively investigated and prosecuted.”

According to court documents, in November 2024, members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center received information that Ethier was discussing the sexual exploitation of minor children with another individual online. Ethier also sent the individual multiple images of child pornography.

On December 2, 2024, Ethier’s home was searched by members of HSI and the Rhode Island Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. As a result of the search, law enforcement located more than 600 images depicting child pornography on Ethier’s electronic devices.

“This case emerged as a cyber lead from the depths of the internet and uncovered a dangerous and depraved individual living right here in Rhode Island. After a meticulous investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and our partners at the Rhode Island State Police, Gary Ethier is now facing a lengthy federal sentence,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “We remain committed to protecting children and holding predators like Ethier accountable for their crimes.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Rhode Island ICAC Task Force.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to fraud offenses, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

William Jose Alejandro Arias Amador, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic residing in Providence, pleaded guilty to false representation of a Social Security number, health care and wire fraud. Arias Amador was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 3, 2025.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, 2026. The sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to court documents, Arias Amador applied for Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits using a United States citizen’s identity and social security number.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Dulce Donovan.

The matter was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of Inspector General, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, United State Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, United States Social Security Administration, Office of Inspector General, and United States Department of Homeland Security.

PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Providence has returned an indictment charging a previously deported Dominican national with illegal reentry into the United States following a drug trafficking conviction, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Fabio Lenin Aza-Velez, 45, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, is charged by indictment with illegal reentry into the United States following deportation after conviction for an aggravated felony.

According to the indictment, Aza-Velez was previously removed from the United States on November 10, 2009, after being convicted in New York for felony narcotics offenses, including criminal sale of a controlled substance on school grounds.

Court records indicate that on January 12, 2006, he was sentenced to three to nine years’ imprisonment for those offenses. The indictment alleges that after having been removed from the United States, the defendant illegally reentered the country without obtaining consent of the Attorney General or the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission.

Aza-Velez was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers on March 12, 2026.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.

The matter was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man who admitted to his role in a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Marc Dure, 32, was sentenced yesterday, March 11, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 10 years in federal prison. Dure previously pleaded guilty on December 11, 2025, to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

“Fentanyl trafficking inflicts tremendous harm on individuals, families, and entire communities,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “Those who choose profit from distributing this deadly drug must be held accountable for the damage that they cause.”

“Fentanyl traffickers like Marc Dure must be held accountable for the destruction caused by their crimes, and this sentence does exactly that by keeping him behind bars for the next decade,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Know the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force is working hard every day to battle the dealers and traffickers who are pushing this deadly poison into our neighborhoods and cashing in on the opioid epidemic with no regard for the devastating impact they have on Rhode Island families."

According to court documents, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force was conducting an investigation into drug trafficking in and around the Providence area and, during the investigation, law enforcement determined that Dure and his co-conspirators were involved in the distribution of fentanyl pills.

Dure was apprehended on December 7, 2023, during the execution of a court authorized search warrant of his Providence residence. The FBI seized fentanyl, cocaine, and cash. At the time of his arrest, Dure attempted to flush narcotics down the toilet and climb out a window, before being taken into custody. As a result of their investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 655 grams of fentanyl from Dure.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task Force.

The Safe Streets Task Force consists of agents and law enforcement officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, the Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.

PROVIDENCE – A North Providence man was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for production of child pornography, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Larry W. Albino, 52, was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose to 25 years of imprisonment to be followed by lifetime supervised release, sex offender registry and $3,000 restitution to victim. Albino previously pleaded guilty on November 4, 2025 to one count of production of child pornography.

“The depravity of the defendant’s actions cannot be overstated, and the victimization of children represents some of the most disturbing conduct our office prosecutes,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.  “We will continue to use every available resource, alongside our law enforcement partners, to identify, investigate, and hold those responsible fully accountable.”

“Albino earned each and every year of this significant sentence. He not only assaulted a child, but he also immortalized that abuse in the ultimate betrayal of an innocent life. This sentence cannot undo the harm he has done, but it does take him off the streets and away from children,” said Homeland Security Investigations New England Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol. “This joint investigation was made possible through the close partnership with our colleagues at the Rhode Island State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. We are working tirelessly, leveraging our combined expertise to hunt down predators like Albino and seek justice for their victims.”

According to information presented to the court, on September 16, 2024, a Rhode Island State Police Detective assigned to the ICAC Task Force received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that an IP address, later determined to belong to Albino’s residence, was used to upload ten files depicting the abuse of a pre-pubescent child. Further investigation revealed that that the location where the videos were recorded matched images of rooms recently displayed in an online property rental listing where Albino resides.

As detailed in court documents, on September 17, 2024, members of the ICAC Task Force executed a court-authorized search of Albino’s residence and immediately recognized that some of the furnishings of rooms inside Albino’s residence matched those depicted in the videos of child sexual abuse.  Additionally, sandals worn by the defendant at the time officers arrived matched those worn by the abuser in some of the videos.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.

The matter was jointly investigated by the Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force and Homeland Security Investigations.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc

PROVIDENCE – A Lawrence, Massachusetts man who trafficked more than three pounds of crystal methamphetamine was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Hector Gonzalez Michel, 35, was sentenced on March 5, 2026 by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to 121 months of imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

“Methamphetamine trafficking continues to pose a serious threat to public safety and well-being of our communities,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This sentence holds the defendant accountable and reflects the tireless work of our law enforcement partners to disrupt the flow of dangerous drugs throughout New England.”

“Trafficking pounds of crystal meth isn’t just a crime, it’s a direct attack on the safety and health of our communities,” said Jarod Forget, Special Agent in Charge, New England Field Division. “When someone moves this amount of methamphetamine, the damage reaches far beyond one neighborhood. Our mission is to stop that pipeline and hold those responsible accountable.”

Court records show that members of the Rhode Island DEA Task Force developed information that Gonzalez Michel was preparing to deliver a substantial quantity of crystal meth to an individual in Boston. 

Rhode Island and Boston DEA Task Force agents and Boston Police Detectives later intercepted the delivery as he arrived outside a Boston residence where he was delivering the drugs.  Police recovered approximately 3.4 pounds of crystal methamphetamine stored inside a small cooler that Gonzalez Michel was carrying.

Gonzalez Michel previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stacey A. Erickson.

The Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force is comprised of personnel from the DEA, Rhode Island State Police, the East Providence, Cranston, Coventry, Newport, North Kingstown, Pawtucket, Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments, Amtrak Police, and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

Members of the DEA Boston Task Force Group 5 assisted in the investigation and arrest of Gonzalez Michel.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Providence to filing false tax returns after failing to report hundreds of thousands of dollars in income that he received from selling stolen catalytic converters to a Rhode Island scrap yard, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Daniel Rivera, 36, pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns.  Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district court judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to information presented to the court, Rivera received approximately $59,890 from stolen catalytic converter sales in 2021 and $224,750 in 2022 but failed to report those amounts on his federal income tax returns. As a result, Rivera’s false filings caused tax losses of approximately $13,426 for the tax year 2021 and $55,930 for the tax year 2022.

Charging documents reflect that from at least January 2021 until November 2022, Rivera and others canvased neighborhoods and parking lots in Rhode Island and Massachusetts in search of unoccupied vehicles from which they could steal catalytic converters. Many of the stolen catalytic converters were sold to a Providence company (identified in court documents as Company 1) that recycles catalytic converters. Depending on the model and type of precious metal component, the average scrap price for catalytic converters ranged from $300 to $1,500.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney’s Paul F. Daly, Jr and Julie M. White.

The matter was investigated by the FBI, Cranston Police Department, Providence Police Department, IRS-Criminal Investigations, United States Marshal Service, National Insurance Crime Bureau, Newport Police Department, Fitchburg State University Police, Watertown Police Department, Canton Police Department, Attleboro Police Department, Fall River Police Department, and Department of Veterans Affairs- Office of Inspector General-Criminal Investigations Division.

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man has been charged for forcibly resisting, opposing, and impeding federal officers and willful depredation of government property, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Alfredo Nufio Marroquin, 39, made an initial appearance in federal court on February 10, 2026.

According to charging documents, on January 22, 2026, agents and task force officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempted to conduct a vehicle stop of Marroquin, who is allegedly unlawfully present in the United States. As agents approached, the defendant allegedly failed to comply and fled in his vehicle. Officers followed and attempted a second stop, at which time Marroquin allegedly placed the vehicle in reverse, striking a law enforcement vehicle and causing damage. It is alleged that Marroquin then turned the vehicle sharply toward officers and fled.

Federal criminal charges are merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julianne Klein.

The matter was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

PROVIDENCE, RI – A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Providence to charges related to a conspiracy to murder a federal witness to prevent the witness from testifying in a criminal matter pending before the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Kareem Pires, 27, of Wareham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to tamper with a witness or informant by killing or attempting to kill, in a murder-for-hire plot. Pires will be sentenced on May 18, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  The charges to which Pires pleaded guilty carry significant potential penalties.

According to court documents, Pires participated in a conspiracy to arrange for the killings of a federal witness connected to a pending federal criminal case. The agreement between Pires and a co-defendant, to kill a witness in an official proceeding in the District of Massachusetts was formed while co-defendant Elijah Melton was awaiting trial at the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility.

“Threats or acts of violence against witnesses, or anyone involved in the administration of justice strike at the very foundation of our legal system,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This guilty plea reflects our commitment, along with law enforcement partners, to investigate and prosecute anyone who seeks to intimidate or harm those who are witnesses in court proceedings.”

“Kareem Pires not only wanted the witness dead, but he was also willing to help kill other intended targets,” said Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Division. “Given Mr. Pires' lack of respect for human life, he belongs behind bars, and that’s exactly where today’s conviction will keep him. We refuse to cede our cities to criminals who think solving a problem means pulling a trigger. That's why your FBI and our partners will continue to work together and bring all our resources to bear to disrupt deadly plots like this one in an effort to keep our communities safe.”

The matter is being prosecuted by Criminal Chief Stacey A. Erickson and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service for the District of Massachusetts, with the assistance of the Donald W. Wyatt Detention Facility in Rhode Island. 

PROVIDENCE- Stacey A. Erickson has been named Criminal Chief for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. Ms. Erickson has served as the Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division since 2022.

Ms. Erickson joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in August 2019, where she has prosecuted violent crime, human trafficking, complex fraud, and narcotics trafficking cases. She has also served as the offices Homeland Security Lead Task Force Attorney, the former Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force Coordinator and Human Trafficking Coordinator.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. Erickson served as a state prosecutor in the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for 25 years, where she led more than 100 criminal jury trials involving serious violent crime, sexual assault, organized crime, and drug trafficking. In her distinguished tenure as a Rhode Island Assistant Attorney General, Ms. Erickson served, at various times, as Criminal Chief, Deputy Criminal Chief, Chief of the Narcotics & Organized Crime Division, and Chief of the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit. 

“Stacey Erickson is a proven leader whose experience and dedication to public service make her exceptionally well qualified to lead the Criminal Division,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “I am confident she will continue to serve the people of Rhode Island with skill and integrity as she enters into this new role.”

Erickson is a graduate of Boston College and Suffolk University Law School. 

PROVIDENCE – A Massachusetts man unlawfully present in the United States, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to possession of a loaded firearm following a traffic stop, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Everton Luis Teixeira Da Silva, 23, of Framingham, MA, has pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition and unlawful entry into the United States.  He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2026. The sentence imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to court documents, on August 17, 2025, during a traffic stop conducted by the Providence Police Department, Da Silva fled from officers on foot and during the pursuit, he discarded a firearm.  The weapon was later recovered by police and identified as a green 9mm pistol, loaded with six rounds and had an obliterated serial number.  The defendant was apprehended and investigators determined that he entered the United States unlawfully. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald R. Gendron.

The matter was investigated by the FBI and the Providence Police Department.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

PROVIDENCE – Zynex, Inc, a Colorado-based medical device company, has agreed to enter into a non-prosecution agreement (NPA) with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Rhode Island and admit to participating in a conspiracy to commit health care fraud, securities fraud, mail fraud, and other violations, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Under the agreement, which is subject to approval of the bankruptcy court in Zynex’s ongoing Chapter 11 proceedings, Zynex will pay between $5 and $12.5 million depending on the company’s earnings and profit over the period of the agreement.  Zynex will also forfeit all unpaid claims submitted prior to September 1, 2025, including claims submitted during the period of suspension of TRICARE payments. These forfeited claims include more than $85 million billed to TRICARE during a suspension period and more than $13 million billed to other payors and patients. 

In the Statement of Facts included in the NPA, Zynex also admits the following:

• Zynex fraudulently obtained millions of dollars from government and private health care payors and patients by submitting excessive and improper claims for medical devices and supplies.
   
• During the relevant period, Zynex collected more than $873 million for its products, including more than $600 million for supplies, the vast majority of which were the result of fraud.
   
• Zynex shipped and billed for medically unnecessary supplies in excess quantities, sometimes as large as 32, 64, or 128 electrode pairs per patient each month.
   
• Zynex misled investors by concealing that its revenues were driven by fraudulent billing practices.

As part of the resolution, Zynex agreed to implement enhanced compliance and corporate governance reforms designed to prevent future misconduct, strengthen internal oversight, and ensure accountability under its new leadership. The company also agreed to fully cooperate with the government’s ongoing investigations.

“This resolution addresses the seriousness of the fraud committed by Zynex while recognizing the substantial turnaround in conduct implemented under new management,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “It also demonstrates that when new management confronts the fraudulent conduct, reforms its practices, and fully cooperates, the Government will take those actions into account in reaching an appropriate resolution.”

Thomas Sandgaard, the former CEO of Zynex, and Anna Lucsok, the former Chief Operating Officer of Zynex were previously indicted for related conduct and charges.  They made an initial appearance in federal court on January 21, 2026. Lucsok was released with electronic monitoring and on January 26, 2026, Thomas Sandgaard was ordered detained.

"The FBI remains steadfast in uncovering and deterring fraud against our health care system," said Amanda Koldjeski, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Denver.  "Each year, acts of health care fraud cost patients, insurers, and the government billions of dollars. In order to maintain the integrity of our health care system, the FBI will hold any individual or entity engaging in health care fraud responsible for their conduct.”

“As the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, the Defense Criminal Investigative Service remains fully committed to tenaciously investigating fraudulent conduct that wastes taxpayer dollars and undermines the integrity of TRICARE, the uniformed services primary health care program,” said Special Agent in Charge Chad Gosch, DCIS Southwest Field Office.  “These efforts reaffirm our unwavering dedication to protecting the DoD community, its resources, and programs that are essential to military readiness.”

“This agreement reinforces the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s commitment to protecting the integrity of VA’s health care programs and preserving taxpayer funds,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Heddell with the VA OIG Western Field Office. “The VA OIG thanks the Department of Justice, and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this investigation.”

“Zynex’s former executives engaged in a scheme that defrauded taxpayer-funded health care programs and deceived investors,” said Roberto Coviello, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. “This outcome makes clear that corporate fraud against federal health care programs will be detected and met with decisive action, and companies should always uphold their responsibility to operate ethically.”

The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom and Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Milind Shah.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Denver and Boston Field Offices; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General; Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations.

Assistance was also provided by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Insurance Crime Bureau – Northeast Region.

NPA Attached: 

PROVIDENCE, RI – A Georgia man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to charges related to his role in a wide-ranging lottery and sweepstakes scam that defrauded senior citizens in Rhode Island and several other states out of at least one million dollars, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Patrick Dallas, 38, of Atlanta, GA, pleaded guilty on February 5, 2026, to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Dallas is scheduled to be sentenced on May 7, 2026. A federal judge will determine the sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

According to court documents, Dallas, of Cumming, GA, and two co- conspirators defrauded elderly individuals through a bogus “Publishers Clearing House” (PCH) or similar sweepstakes scam and laundered the proceeds through entities and bank accounts they controlled.

Victims were told they had won large sums of money, often millions of dollars, in a PCH lottery or sweepstakes. They were told that in order to collect their winnings, they were required to provide personal identifying information for prize verification purposes, and that they had to pay upfront fees or taxes. Some of the victims were directed to send money, gift cards, and/or high value items such as Rolex watches and iPhones, purportedly to cover these fees, to various addresses controlled by the defendants.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney John P. McAdams.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Warwick Police Department.

Homeland Security Investigations in Atlanta, Georgia State Patrol, Forsyth County Sherriff’s Office, Fulton Count Sherriff’s office, the U.S. Marshalls Service, and the East Providence Police Department also assisted in the investigation. 

PROVIDENCE – A Dominican national, living unlawfully in the United States, pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island to unlawful possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Luis Alberto De Los Santos, 23, pleaded guilty on February 5, 2026, to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He will be sentenced on April 27, 2026, and faces possible deportation. The sentence will be determined by a federal judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

           According to information presented to the court, De Los Santos is a citizen of the Dominican Republic who entered the country on a travel visa in 2021 and was required to depart the U.S. in 2022.

On April 25, 2025, Providence Police observed De Los Santos with a group of individuals in the Hartford neighborhood. De Los Santos, who was wearing a ski mask, fled from police with the firearm before discarding the weapon behind a building and continuing to flee. Through their investigation, law enforcement discovered the defendant had been in possession of a .22 caliber pistol. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman.

The matter was investigated Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Providence Police Department.

This investigation is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. 

PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for trafficking two kilos of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Manuel Jose Miranda, 37, was sentenced to federal prison on January 22, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Melissa R. DuBose, to 60 months of incarceration and four years of supervised release. Miranda pleaded guilty in July 2025 to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

“This case reflects the ongoing trafficking of dangerous, illegal narcotics into our communities and the harm that it causes,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “Large- scale trafficking such as this fuel’s addiction, violence, and loss throughout Rhode Island and across the nation. Our office will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to disrupt these networks and hold those responsible accountable.”

According to court documents, in September 2024, U.S. Postal Inspectors intercepted a package addressed to Miranda’s residence that contained two kilograms of cocaine. The package was resealed and delivered to the residence by an undercover Postal Inspector and remained under law enforcement surveillance. After Miranda retrieved the package from the outside of the residence and placed it in his backpack, law enforcement attempted to stop him as he fled on his motorcycle. He was ordered to stop and get off the motorcycle and the parcel containing the two kilos of cocaine was located inside his backpack.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter I. Roklan.

The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigation, and the Warwick Police Department.

PROVIDENCE – A Providence man has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for trafficking kilos of cocaine, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Eluid Rosa-Escudero, 35, was sentenced on January 21, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 24 months of incarceration followed by three years of supervised release. Rosa-Escudero pleaded guilty on September 10, 2025, to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Court documents reflect that a three-month, multi-agency investigation into Rosa-Escudero’s drug trafficking activities culminated on April 10, 2025, with the execution of a court-authorized seizure of a package containing over two kilograms of cocaine and a search of his Providence residence, resulting in the seizure of over $10,000 in cash and other items associated with narcotics trafficking.

Leading up to the execution of the search warrant, law enforcement intercepted a package containing the cocaine, which was removed from the package.  Law enforcement then surveilled the retrieval of the same package (with the cocaine removed) delivered by the U.S. Postal Service to the front porch of a Providence residence. The package was retrieved by an individual who arrived by car and later drove to a nearby gas station, where the driver met with Rosa-Escudero, who was travelling in a separate vehicle. As the two vehicles departed, a law enforcement surveillance team followed Rosa-Escudero to his residence. East Providence Police subsequently conducted an investigative stop of the vehicle driven by the individual who retrieved the package from the porch of the residence, who was identified as a 15-year-old juvenile.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christine D. Lowell and G. Michael Seaman.

The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service Contraband Interdiction and Investigations Task Force, with the assistance of the Providence, East Providence and Pawtucket Police Departments, and the Rhode Island State Police.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

PROVIDENCE – A Virginia truck driver was sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for engaging in sexual contact with a minor female who traveled with him in his tractor-trailer truck, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

David Romero Reyes, 55, of Stafford, Virginia, was sentenced on January 20, 2026, by Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to 17 years in federal prison. Romero Reyes pleaded guilty on September 3, 2025, to transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. He was also given 20 years of supervised release following his prison term and was ordered to register as a sex offender.

“The sentence imposed in this case reflects the defendant’s monstrous actions. There is no place in our federal district or in our society for such egregious abuse of a child,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. “This office will use every available resource to ensure that those who prey on the most vulnerable will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

According to court documents, in April 2021, Romero Reyes was detained by Naval Station Newport Police following a routine background check to enter the Navy base to make a delivery. Police determined that he was wanted in Texas on a charge of felony assault of a child. The young girl was located inside the sleeping compartment of the truck during a routine inspection. The girl was brought for a medical examination at Hasbro Children’s Hospital where it was learned that she was approximately five months pregnant. The girl was reported missing from her Virginia home in July 2020, when she was 14 years old.  An investigation determined that Romero Reyes was known to the girl and to her family prior to her disappearance.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ronald R. Gendron and John P. McAdams.

The matter was investigated by the Naval Station Newport Police, FBI, and Rhode Island State Police.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc

PROVIDENCE – A Warwick man has been sentenced in federal court in Rhode Island for selling fentanyl-laced pills disguised as Percocet, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda

Preston Quintanilha, 23, was sentenced on January 20, 2026, by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 36 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of supervised release. Quintanilha pleaded guilty on June 25, 2025, to charges of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and attempt to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Quintanilha has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on May 28, 2024.

According to court documents, in August 2023, during a joint federal and local law enforcement investigation into the defendant’s drug trafficking activities, the DEA made two controlled purchases of fentanyl-laced pills from Quintanilha.

On September 28, 2023, law enforcement executed multiple court-authorized search warrants and seized 999 fentanyl-laced pills (107.5 grams), a bag of suspected crack cocaine, and $5,830 in cash from his residence; 1,003 fentanyl-laced pills (109.9 grams) from a Pawtucket apartment which Quintanilha used to store narcotic drugs; and $4,232 in cash from his person, proceeds Quintanilha admitted were from his drug trafficking activities.

Additionally, on April 16, 2024, United States Postal Service employees intercepted a package addressed to Quintanilha to be delivered to a relative’s residence. A certified K-9 dog positively alerted for the presence of a narcotic odor. A court-authorized search of the package revealed 9,998 fentanyl-laced pills (1,085.8 grams). Quintanilha admitted that he had the package shipped to a relative’s house under the guise of it being a gift for his girlfriend.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White.

The matter was investigated by the DEA, Warwick, Pawtucket, and Newport Police Departments, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. 

PROVIDENCE – A Massachusetts man has pleaded guilty in federal court in Rhode Island for sponsoring and exhibiting roosters in an animal fighting venture, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

Luis Castillo, 35, pleaded guilty to violating the Animal Welfare Act, in connection to his role and participation in a cockfighting derby in 2022.  Castillo admitted travelling from Massachusetts to Rhode Island and bringing roosters to cockfight for sport, wagering and entertainment. He will be sentenced on April 21, 2026. The sentences imposed will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Senior Trial Attorney Gary Donner and Assistant Chief Stephen Da Ponte of the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney John McAdams for the District of Rhode Island prosecuted the case.

This case was investigated by the Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, the Postal Inspection Service, and the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigation. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Rhode Island State Police, Massachusetts State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Providence, Woonsocket, and Attleboro Police Departments. 

PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Rhode Island has returned an indictment, unsealed today, charging the former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Zynex, Inc., a medical device company, with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, securities fraud, and mail fraud, among other violations.

Thomas Sandgaard, 67, a resident of Castle Rock, Colorado and a dual citizen of the United States and Denmark, and Anna Lucsok, 39, a resident of Denver, Colorado and a dual citizen of the United States and the Ukraine, were indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, mail fraud, and securities fraud; nine counts of health care fraud, two counts of mail fraud and three counts of aggravated identity theft, announced United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda.

The indictment alleges that from at least 2017 through late 2025, Sandgaard and Lucsok orchestrated a scheme to fraudulently obtain millions of dollars from government and private health care payors and patients, and to defraud investors in Zynex by concealing that the company’s billings and revenues were driven by fraud.

In total, Sandgaard and Lucsok caused Zynex to collect more than $873 million for its products, including more than $600 million for supplies. The vast majority of the supplies’ billings were unnecessary and improperly billed. The indictment alleges that supplies were shipped in excessive volumes, sometimes as large as 32, 64, or 128 electrode pairs per patient each month. Sandgaard and Lucsok used these fraudulent billings, and the revenues derived from them, to fraudulently inflate the company’s financial reporting and drive up the stock price of Zynex.

“This case represents a troubling abuse of patients seeking care, as well as the federal healthcare benefit system,” said United States Attorney Charles C. Calenda. As alleged, the defendants’ conduct undermined programs intended to serve patients in need. Our office remains committed to protecting the integrity of these programs and holding accountable those who seek to exploit patients, payors, and investors.”

Sandgaard and Lucsok caused Zynex to submit millions of dollars in fraudulent billings for medical devices and supplies that were not medically necessary, not covered by these insurance programs and not agreed to by the patients. They continued these practices despite being notified many times that their billing practices were fraudulent, and even when patients told Zynex to stop sending those supplies because they already had too many. They also continued these practices despite objections from their own employees, and patient complaints to Zynex and the Better Business Bureau such as:

1. 1/11/2022: [T]hey kept mailing me supplies and I kept getting denials. I called today and was informed that I owe a tremendous amount of money…. I live on $1100.00 dollars a month and cannot [sic] afford much period. …. She informed me that there still would be a rental fee and supply fees. I told her that I could not even afford food at this point.
    
2. 1/24/2023: I received the product and then continued to receive [sic] batteries and electrodes. AFTER NINE MONTHS I received a bill with 27 charges for supplies. This was the first bill I ever received, they just kept racking up the charges and they waited nine months to send the bill. The minute I received it, I called the company, and they were unable to connect me with the billing department, we set-up a call back – still waiting. I feel like this company is a total SCAM.

When financial reporters raised questions about Zynex’s business practices, including shipping unnecessary electrodes, among other things, Sandgaard hired an individual to attempt to disrupt the reporters’ personal lives. These efforts included signing reporters up for therapy sessions and listing conditions such as erectile disfunction. They also sent used female underwear to a reporter’s spouse at the reporter’s home with a thank you card addressed to the spouse, detailing the reporter’s alleged “illicit behavior” – all apparently with the intent to convince the spouse that her husband was being unfaithful.

The United States has sought to restrain assets of Sandgaard or related entities, including a Porsche, a BMW, a Mercedes-Benz, real properties in Colorado and Florida, multiple bank accounts, and a Gulfstream G-IV aircraft. The government has also sought to restrain the assets of Lucsok including real property, a Porsche, a Volkswagen SUV, and various bank accounts.

A federal criminal indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty

The case is being prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom and Assistant United States Attorneys Peter I. Roklan and Milind M. Shah. 

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Colorado Field Division with the assistance of the Boston Field Division; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General; Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service; the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General; the Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General and the FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.

Assistance was also provided by the Defense Contract Audit Agency, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the National Insurance Crime Bureau – Northeast Region.