18 arrested on drug, gun charges

October 8, 2020 6:29 pm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)- Eighteen individuals, from Woonsocket, Warwick, Providence and Cranston, have been arrested as part of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods, U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman announced in a statement Thursday.

The investigation, dubbed “Operation River Fork”, was launched in Woonsocket in January before expanding to other towns, according to the statement.

Investigators said they discovered three separate drug and firearms trafficking conspiracies.

Search warrants served on Wednesday netted eight arrests, followed by seven more today.

Over the two days, the task force seized three loaded firearms, nearly 350 grams of crack cocaine, 130 grams of fentanyl, 120 grams of powder cocaine, and $122,000 in cash, Weisman said.

Thirteen of those arrested were already on state or federal probation for prior offenses, according to the statement.

“It is unfortunate, and really distressing, that defendants with previous criminal histories would remain undeterred from continuing to deal in drugs, and, in some instances, even firearms.” Weisman said. “Thanks to the exemplary, and truly heroic, work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, these alleged bad actors – who endanger our neighborhoods and threaten our families with gun and drug violence – now face the prospect of significant incarceration in federal prison.”

Those arrested Wednesday:

Anthony Medeiros, 29, Woonsocket:

· Three counts of the Distribution of 28 grams or More of Cocaine Base

· Two counts of Distribution of Cocaine Base

· One count of Conspiracy to distribute a Controlled Substance

Bradley Dewalt. 28, Woonsocket:

· One count of the Distribution of Cocaine Base

· One count of Conspiracy to distribute a Controlled Substance

Michael Fernandes, 27, Woonsocket:

· Two counts of the Distribution of 28 grams or More of Cocaine Base

· One count of Distribution of Cocaine Base

· One count of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance

Mariah Raymond, 26, Woonsocket:

· One count of the Distribution of 28 grams or More of Cocaine Base

· One count of Conspiracy to distribute a Controlled Substance

Josue Gomez Sanchez, 26, Woonsocket:

· Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base

· Distribution of Cocaine Base

Jose Perez, 27, Woonsocket

· Two counts of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base

· One count of Distribution of Cocaine Base

Michael Wilkerson, 36, Woonsocket:

· One count of Distribution of 28 Grams or More of Cocaine Base

· One count of Distribution of Cocaine Base

Bruce Perez Gonzalez, 25, Woonsocket:

· Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base

· Distribution of Cocaine Base

Those arrested on Thursday:

Joel Figueroa, 24, Providence:

· Two counts of Distribution of less than 28 grams of Cocaine Base

· One count of Conspiracy to Distribute of Cocaine Base

· One count of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Ricardo Pierre, 41, Warwick:

· Five counts of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base

Ronnie Smith, 32, Cranston:

· One count of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base

· One count of Distribution of Cocaine Base

Michael Rodriguez, 25, Providence:

· One count of Distribution of 28 grams of More of Cocaine Base

· Two counts of Distribution of Cocaine Base

Angel Aviles, 22, Cranston:

· Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl and distribution of cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl

Juan Batista, 35, Woonsocket:

· Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl and distribution of cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl

Natalie Cassidy, 26, Woonsocket

· Conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl and distribution of cocaine base, heroin and fentanyl

Detained at the Adult Correctional Institutions on unrelated charges:

Brady Robinson, 26, Woonsocket:

· Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Alfonso Merced, 35, Woonsocket:

· Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Josimar Pereira, 24, Woonsocket:

· Two counts of the offense of distribution of a controlled substance, cocaine base; and

· Six counts of distribution of a controlled substance, cocaine base and fentanyl

The Safe Streets Task Force is made up of agents and law officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, along with the Providence, Cranston, Woonsocket, Pawtucket, West Warwick, and Central Falls Police Departments, and the Rhode Island National Guard and U.S. Marshals Service.