Providence man faces deportation for cocaine possession

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — United States Attorney Zachary Cunha said Wednesday that a Providence man from the Dominican Republic faces deportation for possessing nearly 2 kilograms of cocaine.

Cunha said that 38-year-old Robinson Padilla-Rosario was arrested last year after claiming a package that had two bricks of cocaine inside at a Providence post office.

The bricks were inside a package that was wrapped in duct tape, spray foamed, and wrapped again in birthday gift wrap.

According to court documents, a postal worker was unable to deliver the package addressed to a “Jose Azcona.” Two days later, Padilla-Rosario, with a fake ID with a picture of himself, the name Jose A. Azcona, and the address where the package was sent, picked up the package from the post office.

Investigators found that Padilla-Rosario had been in contact with someone from Puerto Rico, discussing the package containing the cocaine.

Padilla-Rosario plead guilty to possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and using a communication device to facilitate the commission of a drug felony back in May.

On Wednesday, he was serve prison time followed by two years of federal supervised release.

“As Padilla Rosario was illegally present in the United States following a prior unlawful entry and voluntary departure in 2004, he has separately been taken into the custody of immigration authorities for the purpose of effecting his removal from the United States,” Cunha’s office added in a release.