District of Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Dwayne O’Hagan, 30, of Woonsocket, arrested by members of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Drug Task Force in April 2012 for dealing cocaine on the streets of Woonsocket, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Providence today to 24 months in federal prison, the high end of advisory federal sentencing guidelines, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA’s New England Field Division; and Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas S. Carey.

U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered O’Hagan to serve 3 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. O’Hagan pleaded guilty on August 27, 2012, to three counts of distribution of cocaine, as charged in a three-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on May 9, 2012.

According to information presented to the court, an undercover DEA Drug Task Force investigation into O’Hagan’s drug trafficking activities, which included the use of electronic surveillance, revealed that on three occasions between March 21, 2012, and April 9, 2012, he sold various amounts of cocaine. O’Hagan admitted to the court that during that time he sold approximately 65 grams of cocaine.

O’Hagan was arrested and detained on April 24, 2012.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin S. Towbin.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Richard Paulino, a/k/a Jose Nieves and Jose Ayala, 30, a Dominican national living in Providence, was sentenced today to 57 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.

U. S District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered Paulino to serve three years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Paulino pleaded guilty on July 18, 2012, to one count each of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base and felon in possession of a firearm. Upon completion of his federal prison sentence, Paulino will be referred to Homeland Security Investigations immigration officials for deportation proceedings.

According to information presented to the court, on April 18, 2012, detectives from the Providence Police Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit executed a court authorized search warrant at a Providence residence used by Paulino as a stash house. During the search, detectives seized a total of 107 grams of cocaine and 15 grams of crack cocaine; a .22 caliber handgun and a .45 caliber handgun; ammunition; $1,460 in cash; and a variety of items used in the preparation and street sale of crack cocaine. Paulino admitted to the court that all of the items seized belonged to him.

Paulino, who was previously convicted in Rhode Island state court on felony drug charges, has been detained since his arrest on April 18, 2012.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.

United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha acknowledged the efforts of the Providence Police Narcotics and Organized Crime Unit for their investigation of Paulino’s illegal drug activities and for their arrest of the defendant.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted Providence Police in the investigation of the firearms seized from Paulino.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Four defendants have been sentenced to federal prison and a fifth is awaiting trial in federal court on drug trafficking charges, for allegedly shipping packages containing substantial quantities of cocaine through the U.S. Postal Service, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Kevin M. Niland, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division.

Numerous packages which allegedly contained a total of nearly 14 kilos of cocaine and were addressed to Rhode Island residences were identified and tracked by U.S. Postal Inspectors. The majority of packages were allegedly shipped to Rhode Island from Puerto Rico. Some of the packages were allegedly shipped from California.

Controlled deliveries by U.S. Postal Inspectors, with the assistance of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force, resulted in the arrest of five individuals, four of whom have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges and have been sentenced to federal prison. A fifth defendant is awaiting trial. All of the defendants allegedly operated independent of one another. Several other shipments of illegal narcotics through the U.S. Mail remain under investigation by U.S. Postal Inspectors.

United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha commented, “The distribution of illegal narcotics through the mail is an ongoing and dangerous problem. This Office is committed to working with the Postal Service and other law enforcement partners to deal aggressively with this threat to the health and safety of all Rhode Island residents.

Kevin M. Niland, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division said, “The Postal Service is in the business of moving the mail and has no interest in being the unwitting accomplice to anyone using the U.S. Mail to distribute illegal drugs.  Postal Inspectors work diligently to rid the mail of illicit drugs by maintaining an aggressive drug parcel detection program and seeking prosecution of mailers and recipients of illegal drugs to the fullest extent of the law.”

On March 16, 2012, U.S. Postal Inspectors, assisted by members of the HIDTA Task Force, arrested Alexi Ruiz, 44, of Providence, shortly after he accepted a controlled delivery of a package containing approximately two kilos of cocaine. The package had been shipped through the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico to a Providence residence. Ruiz pled guilty in federal court on July 25, 2012, to a two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Ruiz was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi on November 1, 2012, to 84 months in federal prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

On March 30, 2012, U.S. Postal Inspectors, assisted by members of the HIDTA Task Force, arrested Luis M. Camilo, 39, of Providence, shortly after he accepted a controlled delivery of a package containing approximately one kilo of cocaine. The package had been shipped from Puerto Rico through the U.S. Postal Service. Camilo pled guilty in federal court on May 23, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Camilo was sentenced on September 6, 2012, by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi to 60 months in federal prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

On April 26, 2012, Jorge Antonio Falcon-Ortiz, 40, of Providence, was arrested by U.S. Postal Inspectors, with the assistance of the HIDTA Task Force, after they intercepted the second of three packages containing substantial quantities of cocaine shipped between February 2012 and April 2012 from Puerto Rico. On August 10, 2012, Falcon-Ortiz pled guilty to a two-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and attempt to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine. Falcon-Ortiz was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi on November 1, 2012, to 78 months in federal prison to be followed by 4 years of supervised release.

Jamal L. Boleman, 33, of Providence, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Mary M. Lisi to 84 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. He was arrested on June 25, 2012, on a federal warrant on drug trafficking charges contained in a sealed federal indictment returned by a grand jury in May 2011. The charges stem from an investigation by U.S. Postal Inspectors into the delivery of at least two packages containing cocaine shipped in April 2011 from California to Pawtucket. 

On August 30, 2012, Michael C. Capurso, 34, of Newport, R.I., and Worcester, Mass., was arrested by U.S. Postal Inspectors, with the assistance of the HIDTA Task Force, shortly after the controlled delivery of a package which allegedly contained approximately 2.5 kilos of cocaine to Capurso’s Newport residence. The package was allegedly shipped through the U.S. Postal Service from Puerto Rico.

Capurso is awaiting trial on a federal indictment which charges him with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Capurso has pled not guilty to the charges.

 An indictmentis merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Alexi Ruiz, Luis M. Camilo, Jorge Antonio Falcon-Ortiz and Jamal L. Boleman were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert and William J. Ferland. Michael C. Capurso is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerard B. Sullivan.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – For the second time this week, a federal court judge has sentenced a previously convicted felon to a lengthy federal prison sentence for crimes involving the use or possession of a firearm, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr; and Guy N. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Boston Field Office.

U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith on Wednesday sentenced Juan Colon, 22, of Providence, to 96 months in federal prison. Colon was convicted by a federal court jury in September 2012 on drug trafficking and firearm charges, brought as a result of a Providence Police investigation into Colon’s drug trafficking activities. At the time of Colon’s arrest in December 2011, Providence Police seized three loaded firearms and more than 100 rounds of ammunition associated with the defendant.

On Monday, Alphonso D. Johnson, 38, of Providence, a career offender, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. to 312 months in federal prison for robbing a Providence convenience store clerk at gunpoint in April 2011, and for robbing and assaulting a Providence restaurant owner with a pistol two days later. Johnson pleaded guilty on October 10, 2012, to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and use and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

United States Attorney Peter Neronha commented, “As I stated earlier this week, I am pleased that, working with the Providence Police Department and with Attorney General Peter Kilmartin, we continue to bring gun-wielding criminals to justice, whether in federal or state court.  These cooperative efforts are essential to removing illegal guns from the streets to ensure that our neighborhoods are safe for all Rhode Islanders.”

Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. said, "Thanks to the continued hard work and collaboration between the Providence Police Department and our federal partners in law enforcement, two dangerous criminals no longer threaten our community. I commend the U.S. Attorney’s Office for its successful prosecution of these men, and look forward to future cooperation between our agencies."

“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will continue to work with our law enforcement partners, in these cases the Providence Police Department, to investigate career criminals who commit firearms related crime,” stated ATF Special Agent in Charge Guy N. Thomas, Boston Columbus Field Division. “The lengthy sentences both individuals received should send a clear message to others who commit firearm related violent crime.”

According to evidence presented to a federal jury, a court authorized search of Juan Colon’s residence on December 5, 2011, resulted in the seizure of a loaded firearm which Colon attempted to hide as officers entered the residence, a significant quantity of ammunition, and various quantities of cocaine and marijuana.  A search of two vehicles parked outside of Colon’s residence resulted in the seizure of two loaded firearms and $10,000 in cash, all associated with the defendant. On September 13, 2012, a federal jury convicted Colon of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number.

At the time of his guilty plea in U.S. District Court on October 10, 2012, Alphonso Johnson admitted to the court that on April 18, 2011, he robbed a Providence convenience store clerk at gunpoint of several hundred dollars in cash, cigarettes and a box of cigars. He also admitted to the court that two days later he robbed a West End restaurant owner at gunpoint of more than $4,300 cash in restaurant proceeds, struck her in the face twice with a .25 caliber pistol and kicked her before fleeing on foot.

Juan Colon was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Daly and Milind M. Shah. Alphonso Johnson was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted Providence Police in the investigation of both of these matters.

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Today, the United States Supreme Court denied petitions for writs of certiorari filed by Governor Lincoln D. Chafee and defendant Jason Wayne Pleau. This means that the Supreme Court has refused to consider the Governor’s and Pleau’s challenge to the earlier en banc decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, requiring that the state surrender custody of Pleau for trial on pending federal charges.

United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha commented, “I am obviously pleased with the decision of the United States Supreme Court not to review the First Circuit’s entirely correct ruling requiring the State of Rhode Island to surrender custody of Mr. Pleau to the United States for trial in federal court. As we have been since September of 2010, we are prepared to move ahead with this case immediately and without delay.”

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Alphonso D. Johnson, 38, of Providence, a career offender, was sentenced today to 312 months in federal prison for robbing a Providence convenience store clerk at gunpoint in April 2011, and for robbing and assaulting a Providence restaurant owner with a pistol two days later, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.

U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. also ordered Johnson to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term, Johnson pleaded guilty on October 10, 2012, to two counts of Hobbs Act robbery, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and use and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha commented, “We have today another example of a hardened criminal using an illegal gun to victimize others.  We also have another example of such a criminal going to federal prison for a very, very long time.  I want to thank the Providence Police for their continuing partnership with this Office, and specifically, for the terrific work of the Providence Police Officers involved in this case.”

Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements added, “Through the tireless efforts of the Providence Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives another career criminal is off the street and was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We thank our partners in the U.S. Attorney's office for assisting us in keeping criminals like Johnson off the streets of our city.”

At the time of his guilty plea, Johnson admitted to the court that on April 18, 2011, he robbed a Providence convenience store clerk at gunpoint of several hundred dollars in cash, cigarettes and a box of cigars, and that two days later he robbed a West End restaurant owner at gunpoint of more than $4,300 cash in restaurant proceeds, struck her in the face twice with a .25 caliber pistol and kicked her before fleeing on foot. Providence Police officers quickly canvassed the neighborhood and located Johnson hiding between two parked cars a few blocks away. After a brief foot chase and struggle, Johnson was apprehended.

According to information presented to the court, Johnson, whose criminal record includes multiple convictions as a juvenile, includes felony convictions as an adult for felonious assault, possession of narcotics, simple assaults, domestic assault, and threats to a public official.

Johnson has been detained since his arrest by Providence Police

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard W. Rose.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted Providence Police in the investigation of this matter.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Donald J. Jones, III, 48, of Pemberton, N.J., was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to life plus 10 years in federal prison, having been convicted at trial by a federal court jury in Providence, R.I., in May 2012, on charges of interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual acts with a minor, aggravated sexual assault, enticement of a minor, and distribution of child pornography. Jones was previously convicted on three occasions in the state of New Jersey for crimes against children, including child pornography and aggravated sexual assault of a child under the age of thirteen.

Jones was arrested by federal agents and the Rhode Island State Police on April 8, 2011, after he traveled by bus from Philadelphia to Providence, expecting to meet with an eight-year-old girl and her father. Jones communicated for nearly three weeks via the Internet and by phone with a person he believed was the girl’s father, when in fact he was communicating with federal agents assigned to the Rhode Island State Police Computer Crimes Unit/Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force.

Jones’ sentence was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Colonel Steven G. O’DonnellSuperintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; Kevin M. Niland, U.S. Postal Inspector in Charge; and Bruce M. Foucart, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

U.S. Attorney Peter F. Neronha commented, “As prosecutors, we have no higher calling than to aid parents in protecting their children.  Accordingly, I am very pleased with the life sentenced handed down today, which ensures that a remorseless, recidivist pedophile has been brought to justice. Spending the rest of his life in prison ensures that he will never, ever harm another child.”

Colonel Steven G. O’DonnellSuperintendent of the Rhode Island State Police said, "In addition to preventing this particular pedophile from further targeting any more children, a life sentence sends a clear message to others that may choose to follow in the same path he did.” Colonel O’Donnell added, “I commend the prosecutors, troopers, local police and federal agents for their continued vigilance in tracking, arresting and prosecuting those who prey on our children.”

Kevin M. Niland, U.S. Postal Service Inspector in Charge added, "A life sentence demonstrates the serious consequence that awaits those who sexually exploit innocent children.  The Postal Inspection Service will continue to aggressively identify, target, and arrest those who dare prey on our children."

"Today's life sentence demonstrates the serious consequences that await those who would sexually prey upon and exploit children," said Bruce Foucart, special agent in charge of HSI Boston. "Criminals with this kind of depravity in mind should know that we are ever vigilant. For every tactic taken to evade law enforcement, we will adapt our strategies to find them and prosecute them. Through our partnerships with state, local and other federal law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island, HSI will continue to police cyber space to investigate child predators and ensure that they feel the full weight of the law."

According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, on March 21, 2011, Jones posted a message on an adult Internet forum seeking a parent willing to allow him to have sex with their pre-pubescent child. The message was discovered by a postal inspector assigned to the RI ICAC who responded, posing as the father of an eight-year-old Rhode Island girl.

Jones and the agent exchanged numerous emails which evolved from the parent purporting to have an interest in allowing Jones to have sex with his daughter, to Jones at first describing and then emailing videos of child pornography in an effort to depict his intentions. They also had numerous telephone conversations, including conversations during which a female Providence Police officer posed as the young girl.

The government presented evidence to the jury that Jones purchased clothing for the young girl and mailed them to the person he believed to be her father. Jones also purchased and brought with him a nightgown and underwear for the young girl to wear.

On April 8, 2011, federal agents watched as Jones boarded a bus in Philadelphia and traveled to New York and then on to Rhode Island. Jones was arrested by federal and state law enforcement agents as he stepped off the bus in downtown Providence.

According to the State of New Jersey sex offender registry, Donald J. Jones, III is a level two child sex offender, convicted in 1993 on charges of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child.  Both offenses were against a female under the age of 13. Jones was sentenced today to a consecutive 10 year federal prison sentence for committing a new sex offender crime while being required to register as a sex offender.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen G. Dambruch and Leslie J. Kane.

Providence Police, agents from ICE-Homeland Security Investigations in New Jersey and the U.S. Marshals Service assisted in the investigation.

The Rhode Island State Police ICAC Task Force is a Department of Justice grant-funded program administered by the state police, and is comprised of six State Police detectives, detectives from the Providence, West Warwick, Coventry, Warwick, Johnston, and Pawtucket Police Departments, and federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the United States Postal Inspectors’ Office.  The objective of the ICAC is to form strong working relationships among federal, state and local law enforcement in order to effectively and efficiently prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute online child exploitation and child pornography crimes.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab “resources.”

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Peter A. Laporte, 47, of Warwick, a four-time convicted felon who helped orchestrate the straw-purchase of 10 firearms and a significant quantity of ammunition from a federally licensed firearms dealer in Wyoming, R.I., pleaded guilty today in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Laporte admitted to the court that he orchestrated the purchases during the summer of 2012, because he wanted to stockpile firearms, ammunition and other supplies in preparation for “doomsday.” Laporte was arrested in August 2012, as he exited the firearms dealer’s business.

Laporte’s guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Guy N. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge ATF’s Boston Field Office; Richmond Police Chief Elwood M. Johnson, Jr.; and Warwick Police Chief Colonel Stephen M. McCartney.

At today’s change of plea hearing, Laporte admitted to the court that on July 30, 2012, he accompanied his wife to the firearms dealer and advised her on several purchases of firearms which she made, including four 9mm pistols, a .357 revolver, two semi-automatic assault rifles, a Remington 30-6 rifle, two shotguns and more than 750 rounds of ammunition.

According to information presented to the court, two weeks after ordering the firearms and ammunition, Laporte and his wife returned to the gun shop to pick-up the firearms. Laporte provided a cash payment totaling $6,878.63. He returned to the dealer again on August 22, 2012, to pick-up ammunition that was previously ordered. He was arrested as he exited the business.

Nine of the firearms, 1,000 rounds of assault rifle ammunition and other items were seized by federal agents on August 22, 2012, during an authorized search of a garage and trailer in Warwick rented by Laporte. Court records indicate that a search of Laporte and his wife’s Warwick residence resulted in the seizure of the 10th firearm purchased on July 30 and another rifle.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah.

The matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. United States Attorney Peter Neronha acknowledged the assistance of the Richmond and Warwick Police Departments in the investigation of this matter and the arrest of the Laporte.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Denis Quirke, 37, an Irish national, will be turned over to immigration officials for deportation proceedings after being sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to time served in federal prison for falsely representing to the government that he was a U.S. citizen when he applied for a Rhode Island identification card from the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles in December 2011. Quirke has been detained in federal custody since his arrest on August 31, 2012.

Quirke’s sentence was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Todd Ziccarelli, Special Agent in Charge of the New England Field Office of the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; and Scott E. Antolik, Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Office of the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General/Office of Investigations.

On October 19, 2102, Quirke pleaded guilty to an information charging him with one count each of false claim to United States citizenship and fraudulent use of a Social Security number. He admitted to the court that he misrepresented U.S. citizenship to the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles when he presented the Social Security number of another person as proof of U.S. citizenship in an effort to gain a Rhode Island identification card.

The matter was investigated by the U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Security Service; and Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General/Office of Investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard W. Rose and Zechariah

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            PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Craig A. Carey, 44, of Fall River, Mass., was sentenced on Friday to 272 months in federal prison on conspiracy, bank robbery and firearm charges, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; West Greenwich Police Chief Richard N. Ramsay; Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Richard Deslauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s New England Field Office.

On October 9, 2012, Carey admitted to the court that in May 2011, he and a co-defendant, Louis R. Peters III, 24, of West Topsham, Vt., bound and held employees of a West Greenwich, R.I., bank at gunpoint and robbed the bank of approximately $82,000. Carey pleaded guilty to one count each of conspiracy, bank robbery, carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

At sentencing, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered Carey to serve 5 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term.

On November 23, 2012, Peters was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith to 120 months in federal prison for his participation in the armed robbery of the West Greenwich, R.I., bank. Peters pleaded guilty on January 25, 2012, to one count each of conspiracy, bank robbery and carrying and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

At the time of their guilty pleas, Carey and Peters admitted to the court that on May 28, 2011, they accosted the manager of the Centreville Savings Bank branch office on Victory Highway at gunpoint as the manager prepared to enter the bank. Once inside the bank, Carey and Peters detained and later bound other employees and robbed the bank of approximately $82,000.

Shortly after Carey and Peters fled the bank, two West Greenwich police officers and a Rhode Island State Police trooper located Peters sitting in a vehicle parked behind a nearby building, and Carey who was walking a short distance away. Both men have been detained since their arrest.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Hebert, and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenneth P. Madden.

The matter was investigated by West Greenwich Police, Rhode Island State Police and the FBI.

To assist the media and the public, a glossary of federal judicial terms and procedures is available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/justice101/

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Lin Xiao Wei, 33, a Chinese national, was sentenced on Friday to 16 months in federal prison for importing counterfeit tobacco products into the United States from China, earmarked for Rhode Island. In February 2013, Wei admitted to the court that in February 2012, he arranged for the shipment of a 20-foot cargo container containing counterfeit cigarettes from China to the United States.

Wei, who has been detained since his arrest in Miami on June 4, 2012, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Providence on February 1, 2013, to one count of causing the sale of counterfeit tobacco products.

Wei’s sentence was announced by Peter F. Neronha, United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, and Mark Dragonetti, Special Agent in Charge of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations.

At the time of his guilty plea, Wei admitted to the court that he arranged for the purchase and shipment from China to the United States of a 20-foot cargo container of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes. The cargo container, which shipping documentation claimed contained 696 cartons of leather products, was shipped from a port in China on March 27, 2012.

According to information presented to the court, between the time Wei agreed to ship the fraudulent tobacco products to the U.S. and the arrival of the cargo container through a port in Miami on April 27, 2012, several wire transactions were sent to Wei for the cost of the product and associated shipping fees. Upon arrival in Miami, FDA-OCI and Homeland Security Investigations agents seized the container.

According to information presented to the court, on June 3, 2012, Wei met at a Miami hotel with a confidential informant who was working with investigators, and with an undercover FDA-OCI Task Force agent from Rhode Island. Wei discussed the shipment of the fraudulent tobacco products, as well as previous of counterfeit pharmaceutical products and the availability of other fraudulent products.

U.S. Attorney Neronha commended the FDA-OCI Rhode Island Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Rhode Island State Police, East Providence Police and North Providence Police for their efforts in this multi-jurisdictional investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard B. Myrus and Adi Goldstein.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith.

To assist the media and the public, a glossary of federal judicial terms and procedures is now available at http://www.justice.gov/usao/justice101/

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Charles Fermin, 29, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Providence, R.I., to 41 months in federal prison, having been convicted by a federal court jury in Rhode Island in September 2012 of trafficking cocaine and marijuana, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha and Colonel Steven G. O’DonnellSuperintendent of the Rhode Island State Police.

U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered Fermin to serve 3 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Fermin was arrested by members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force on January 6, 2012.

At trial, the government presented evidence to a jury that at the time of his arrest by members of the HIDTA Task Force, Fermin was in possession of a suitcase containing a loaded .357 Magnum revolver, 33 pounds of marijuana, more than an ounce of cocaine, and drug trafficking paraphernalia. 

The jury heard evidence that during an ongoing investigation into suspected illegal drug activity, HIDTA Task Force agents watched as Fermin carted the suitcase around several Providence streets, pausing at one point to make a cell phone call. When approached, the defendant told arresting officers that he had found the suitcase after it had been tossed over a nearby fence by an unknown person, and that he was unaware of its contents. 

The jury convicted Fermin of cocaine and marijuana trafficking, but acquitted him of a firearms charge. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra R. Hebert.

The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force is comprised of members of law enforcement from the Rhode Island State Police, ATF, DEA, ICE-HSI, R.I. National Guard, and the Johnston, Pawtucket, Providence and Smithfield Police Departments.

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