U.S. Attorney: Alleged Warwick Cocaine Base Dealer Arrested

PROVIDENCE, RI — An alleged Warwick cocaine base dealer is among 18 charged in federal court in Providence with trafficking drugs and/or firearms, the result of a series of FBI Safe Streets Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigations.

Ricardo Pierre, 41, of Warwick, was arrested Thursday and charged with five counts of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base, United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman’s office reported.

Fifteen of the arrestees were previously convicted of felony drug and/or firearm charges, and thirteen of whom are currently serving terms of state or federal probation, have been charged in federal court in Providence with trafficking drugs and/or firearms, the result of a series of FBI Safe Streets Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigations.

“Operation River Fork,” launched by the Safe Streets Task Force in Woonsocket in January, expanded over the past ten months to include investigations in Providence, Warwick and Cranston. The investigations identified three separate alleged drug and/or firearms trafficking conspiracies involving a total of nine individuals, and eight individuals who have been charged based on their alleged independent drug and/or firearm trafficking activities.

Leading up to eight arrests and the execution of two court-authorized search warrants on Wednesday, and seven arrests today, forty-seven controlled drug and firearm transactions monitored by members of the Safe Street Task Force resulted in the seizure of three loaded firearms, approximately one kilogram of crack cocaine, and forty grams of fentanyl.

As a result of the arrests and search warrants executed on Wednesday and Thursday, three loaded firearms, approximately 350 grams of crack cocaine, 130 grams of fentanyl, 120 grams of powder cocaine, and $122,000 in cash were seized by law enforcement.

If convicted as charged in criminal complaints filed with the court, thirteen of the nineteen individuals face mandatory minimum sentences of five years in federal prison.

 “It is unfortunate, and really distressing, that Defendants with previous criminal histories would remain undeterred from continuing to deal in drugs, and, in some instances, even firearms. Thanks to the exemplary, and truly heroic, work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, these alleged bad actors – who endanger our neighborhoods and threaten our families with gun and drug violence – now face the prospect of significant incarceration in federal prison,” Weissman said.

If convicted as charged in criminal complaints filed with the court, thirteen of the nineteen individuals face mandatory minimum sentences of five years in federal prison.

Arrested Wednesday

Anthony Medeiros, 29, Woonsocket

• Three counts of the Distribution of 28 grams or More of Cocaine Base
• Two counts of Distribution of Cocaine Base
• One count of Conspiracy to distribute a Controlled Substance

Bradley Dewalt, 28, Woonsocket

• One count of the Distribution of Cocaine Base
• One count of Conspiracy to distribute a Controlled Substance

Michael Fernandes, 27, Woonsocket

• Two counts of the Distribution of 28 grams or More of Cocaine Base
• One count of Distribution of Cocaine Base
• One count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

Mariah Raymond, 26, Woonsocket

• One count of the Distribution of 28 grams or More of Cocaine Base
• One count of Conspiracy to distribute a Controlled Substance

Josue Gomez Sanchez, 26, Woonsocket

• Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base
• Distribution of Cocaine Base

Jose Perez, 27, Woonsocket

• Two counts of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base
• One count of Distribution of Cocaine Base

Michael Wilkerson, 36, Woonsocket

• One count of Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base
• One count of Distribution of Cocaine Base

Bruce Perez Gonzalez, 25, Woonsocket

• Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base
• Distribution of Cocaine Base

 Arrested Thursday

Joel Figueroa, 24, Providence

• Two counts of Distribution of less than 28 grams of Cocaine Base
• One count of Conspiracy to Distribute of Cocaine Base
• One count of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Ricardo Pierre, 41, Warwick

• Five counts of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base

Ronnie Smith, 32, Cranston

• One count of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base
• One count of Distribution of Cocaine Base

Michael Rodriguez, 25, Providence

• One count of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base
• Two counts of Distribution of Cocaine Base

Angel Aviles, 22, Cranston

• Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl and distribution of cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl

 

Juan Batista, 35, Woonsocket

• Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl and distribution of cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl

 

Natalie Cassidy, 26, Woonsocket

• Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl and distribution of cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl

 

Detained at the ACI on Unrelated Charges

 

Brady Robinson, 26, Woonsocket

• Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Alfonso Merced, 35, Woonsocket

• Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Josimar Pereira, 24, Woonsocket

• Two counts of the offense of distribution of a controlled substance, cocaine base; and
• Six counts of distribution of a controlled substance, cocaine base and fentanyl