US Attorney: Man Arraigned On ID Theft Charges Illegally Bought Cars in Warwick, Johnston, Lincoln

PROVIDENCE— A Pawtucket man is detained in federal custody on charges he allegedly used stolen identities and falsified documents to open bank accounts and to secure bank financing for the lease or purchase of at least four new vehicles in Warwick, Johnston and Lincoln, some of which were used by an alleged cocaine and fentanyl trafficking leader.

Three of the vehicles allegedly ended up in the possession of the alleged leader of a fentanyl and cocaine distribution organization responsible for the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of the drugs in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont.

Donald Wicklund, 32, of Pawtucket, R.I., was arraigned today and ordered detained by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan on an indictment charging him with five counts of aggravated identity theft, five counts of fraudulent use of a social security number, three counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and two counts of wire fraud.

The indictment and arraignment were announced by Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch.

According to court documents and information provided to the court, b etween March 31 and May 24, 2017, Wicklund used stolen personal information of, including social security numbers belonging to at least two minor children, and fraudulent documents and addresses, to secure funding for the purchase or lease of new vehicles in Johnston, Warwick and Lincoln, R.I., and in Foxboro, Mass.

According to information provided to the court, three of the vehicles secured by Wicklund were later identified by law enforcement as having been in the possession or control of Ramon Delossantos, 24, of Cumberland, RI. In court papers, Delossantos has been identified as the alleged leader of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont. The drug trafficking operation was recently broken up by law enforcement during “Operation Panamera.” To date, at least 25 individuals, including Delossantos, have been arrested and ordered detained in federal custody.

According to court documents, Wicklund allegedly used stolen identities, fraudulent documents and fraudulent addresses to purchase or lease two new cars, a new pick-up truck and a three-wheel motorcycle. One of the cars, the pick-up truck and the motorcycle were later identified by law enforcement as being in the possession or control of Delossantos. The motorcycle was later shipped to the Dominican Republic. One of the cars allegedly purchased by Wicklund was later found to be registered in Texas.

Officials also alleged in court documents that Wicklund used stolen personal identifying information and fraudulent documents to obtain a bank account and debit card at a Rhode Island credit Union.

According to court documents, Wicklund’s alleged criminal conduct first came to law enforcement’s attention during an investigation of Reynaldo Martinez, 25 of Central Falls. On Aug. 15, 2017, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Martinez with four counts of aggravated identity theft, two counts of access fraud, and one count each of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, attempted access fraud and interstate transportation of stolen goods. It is alleged that Martinez participated in a conspiracy to use stolen personal identifying information to open or attempt to open retail store credit cards and lines of credits used to purchase tens of thousands of dollars worth of goods and services in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Martinez is currently detained in federal custody and is awaiting trial.