PROVIDENCE, RI — Homeland Security Task Force Investigations agents arrested a Providence woman March 21 for receiving an illegal UPS fentanyl package from California with more than two kilograms of the opioid inside, aided by a Warwick K-9 unit.
The woman, Rosangeles Bueno, 40, was also allegedly found to have more than a kilo of fentanyl and other indicia of drug trafficking stored in her bedroom closet.
Charging documents allege that, on March 16, a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent was made aware by UPS security of a suspicious package addressed to a Providence residence with an addressee name that appeared to be fictious. UPS reported that, since January, six packages with similar characteristics had been shipped to the same address. All six packages were addressed to individuals not associated with the residence.
According to the documents, the package was opened by UPS security and found to contain a brick-like object stashed inside a speaker. A Warwick Police Department K9 examined the package and alerted to the presence of narcotics. The package was removed to HSI offices and was found to contain 2.33 kilograms of fentanyl.
On March 21, after agents removed the fentanyl from the package and replaced it with a substance similar in appearance to fentanyl, a HSI agent, posing as a UPS employee, delivered the package to the front porch of Bueno’s residence. A surveillance team allegedly observed Bueno exit the residence, check the surrounding area in an apparent effort to determine if law enforcement was present, then retrieve and carry the package to the rear of the building.
HSI task force officers executed a court-authorized search of the Bueno’s residence and located the package inside an abandoned vehicle at the rear of the building. Inside the residence, agents encountered Bueno, three juvenile children, a Certified Nursing Assistant, and another adult. From within Bueno’s bedroom, agents allegedly recovered approximately 1,180.61 grams of suspected fentanyl; 61.23 grams of cocaine; 11.15 grams of butyryl fentanyl; cutting agents; two hydraulic kilo presses; and numerous items used in the preparation and distribution of drugs.
Bueno made an initial appearance on Tuesday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan and was ordered held in federal custody until a preliminary hearing scheduled to be held on Friday.
A federal criminal complaint is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.
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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