Longtime criminal sentenced for trafficking fentanyl and meth

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence man was sentenced to five years in federal prison Tuesday for trafficking more than a pound of methamphetamine and more than 60 grams of fentanyl.

John Walker, 61, pleaded guilty in June, 2023 to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.

Walker was observed providing a buyer with a sample methamphetamine in March of 2022 by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force.

The buyer later arranged to purchase methamphetamine from Walker and he was approached by an officer.

Walker admitted to having methamphetamine on his person and further drugs stashed at a drug den he frequented.

59 grams of methamphetamine, and $5,902 in cash were seized from Walker, and 449 grams of meth and 64 grams of fentanyl were found stored at the Providence drug den.

Walker has a lengthy criminal record including breaking and entering, drug trafficking, domestic violence, forgery and counterfeiting, larceny, armed bank robbery and carrying a concealed weapon.