North Providence man sentenced after firearm, narcotics conviction

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A North Providence man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug and firearms charges, according to the office of United States Attorney Zachary Cunha.

Keurys Pena, 35, was sentenced on August 1 to 72 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime. 

Between June and October of 2022, Pena was observed eight times by law enforcement surveillance engaging in the sale of narcotics.

During this period, Pena sold and delivered 7,080 fentanyl-laced pills, and also sold a firearm for cash during one transaction.

All narcotics and the firearm were immediately seized by law enforcement after each transaction.

Pena was arrested on October 18, 2022 at his North Providence residence where he was found in possession of 5.38 grams of cocaine, 11.89 grams of a powder mixture containing fentanyl and 22.84 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine.

On the same day, law enforcement executed a court-authorized search warrant on a stash house maintained by Pena.

There they discovered and seized a powdered substance containing 484.12 grams of fentanyl and a mixture containing 108.6 grams of methamphetamine.

Pena has been convicted several times on drug, conspiracy, forgery and breaking and entering charges, and was on Rhode Island state probation at the time of his 2022 arrest.

This was following a conviction on charges of assault and escape by an inmate, and he was sentenced to 12 years, with 15 months to serve, 165 months suspended with probation.