Rhode Island man sentenced to 20 years at ACI for gang-related shootings

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence man has been sentenced for his involvement in two shootings in March of 2023.

Attorney General Peter F. Neronha’s office announced that Neftaly Sanchez, 27, was sentenced to a total of 30 years behind bars; 20 of those years will be served at the ACI, and five of those years are non-parolable.

Additionally, Sanchez faces 30 years of probation once his sentence is up.

Sanchez pleaded nolo contendere to four counts of felony assault, two counts of discharge of a firearm not resulting in injury, one count of carrying a pistol without a license, one count of conspiracy to commit an assault with a dangerous weapon, one count of discharge of a firearm from a vehicle, one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and one count of possessing a firearm while possessing a controlled substance.

Neronha’s office said that the shootings were connected to a feud between East Side and Chad Brown street gangs, and Providence Superior Court found that Sanchez’s acts were on behalf of the Chad Brown street gang.

The first shooting occurred on March 12, 2023 on Jenkins St., and according to witnesses, Sanchez shot at three victims, including a 9-year-old boy.

The second shooting occurred four days later at the intersection of North Main and Olney St., where witnesses said Sanchez, in a white SUV, fired shots at a blue SUV, hitting another vehicle.

Another man, 20-year-old Isaiah Isom, had already been sentenced to 22 years, with 12 to serve at the ACI, for his role in one of the shootings.