PROVIDENCE – A Providence man is awaiting sentencing in federal court after admitting to the court to drug trafficking of fentanyl, cocaine and heroin in Warwick.
According to United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman’s office, Ronny B. Nova, a/k/a Benancio, 33, of Providence, arrested by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force in Warwick on Aug. 23, 2017, appeared on Thursday before U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., and pleaded guilty as charged by way of federal indictment with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy with intent to distribute fentanyl, and attempt to distribute fentanyl.
Weisman’s office reported Nova trafficked more than eight kilograms of fentanyl, more than two kilograms of cocaine and nearly two kilograms of heroin.
On Nov. 17, 2015, according to court documents, an investigation into Nova’s drug trafficking activities included the purchase of 2.5 grams of heroin from Nova. Three days later, members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force executed a federal court authorized search of a residence with ties to Nova. The task force seized 2,269.3 grams of cocaine, 1,954.1 grams of heroin, 348.4 grams of fentanyl, and 268.2 grams of acetaminophen, also known by the brand name Tylenol.
in August 2017, court documents report, Missouri State Police stopped a rental truck, inside of which they discovered a box containing six kilograms of fentanyl. The driver was arrested, and the fentanyl and the truck were seized. When interviewed by Missouri State Police, the driver allegedly told troopers that he left Baldwin Park, California, on Aug. 20 with the fentanyl, with instructions that he was to bring the truck to a pre-determined location in Warwick, Rhode Island.
DEA agents obtained a similar rental truck in Rhode Island, and, on Aug. 23, an undercover law enforcement officer, posing as the truck driver arrested in Missouri, drove the truck to the same location the truck allegedly carrying the fentanyl was to have been brought, and arrested Nova as he attempted to pick up the drugs.
Nova tried to flee on foot but was detained a short distance away, according to court documents.
Nova is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court John J. McConnell, Jr., on Jan. 30, 2020.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Paul F. Daly and William J. Ferland.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
This is a test
