Providence, RI — A federal court jury in Providence has convicted Jose Ignacio Goris, 41, of Providence, of attempting to possess and distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine in 2014 after making a deal with DEA agents at Warwick Mall and attempting to make the purchase in Cranston.
Agents arrested Goris in August 2014 moments after he took what he believed to be a kilogram of cocaine from an agent, whom he believed to be a drug trafficker, announced United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha’s office in a release sent to media Thursday.
According to the government’s evidence presented at trial, beginning in early May 2014, Goris and two undercover agents posing as large-scale cocaine suppliers made a series of electronically recorded telephone conversations and meetings. Goris repeatedly told the agents he had previously distributed large quantities of cocaine and that he was anxious to return to “work” trafficking cocaine, according to Neronha’s office.
On Aug. 14, 2014, Goris and one of the agents met in the Wawrick Mall parking lot, where Goris was shown what he believed to be two kilos of cocaine. The look-alike cocaine packages were hidden inside a secret compartment of the undercover agent’s vehicle. After examining the packages, Goris told the agent that he was leaving to get funds to purchase a kilo of the cocaine.
Later that day, Goris met the agent inside the Lowes in Cranston at 247 Garfield Ave and negotiated terms for the sale of the kilo of cocaine. The agent directed Goris to a vehicle in the store parking lot which he told Goris contained a bag with a kilo of cocaine.Inside the bag was a package made to appear as if it was a kilo of cocaine.
Goris was arrested by members of the Drug Task Force moments after he retrieved and took possession of the bag from the vehicle.
No one inside the Cranston Lowe’s was aware of or involved with the transaction.
Goris, who has been held in federal custody since his arrest, will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., at a yet-to-be-determined date..
According to court records, Goris was previously convicted in federal court on drug trafficking charges. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul F. Daly, Jr.
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.
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