Providence man to serve 5 years for fentanyl, firearms possession

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — United States Attorney Zachary Cunha said that a 31-year-old Providence man was sentenced to prison for possession of more than 40 grams of fentanyl and a firearm.

Mason A. Nieves was charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.

Cunha said that Nieves’ residence was searched in February 2021 by the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Area Task Force, which found 251 grams of fentanyl, drug packaging materials, a loaded firearm, and $1,591 in cash.

Nieves was sentenced to serve five years and one day in federal prison followed by four years of federal supervised release.

Cunha added that a week before the search of his residence Nieves was convicted of participating in a conspiracy that distributed significantly more than 60,000 units of steroids.