Investigation leads Providence Police to machine gun, drugs, $20k

April 17, 2017 3:14 pm

By: News Staff

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Providence Police seized heroin, fentanyl, $21,000 in drug proceeds, and six firearms, including a machine gun with an attached silencer, after a year-long investigation in the Chad Brown neighborhood of Providence.

Edward Trinidad, 29, Kevin Arroyo, 29, General Jones, 30, and Lawrence M. Crowell, 31, were indicted by a federal grand jury and detained in federal custody.

The investigation was launched in the spring of 2016 to analyze shell casings from crime scenes in and around the Chad Brown neighborhood by the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives, ATF Task Force and Providence Police.

Using ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBN), marks left on shell casings are identified for being unique to a particular firearm.

The investigation spread to find who possessed the various firearms used to commit crimes and the origin of the firearms.

The items seized were a machine gun equipped with a silencer, a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .22 caliber revolver; a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol, various types and amounts of ammunition, substantial amounts of heroin, fentanyl cocaine and crack cocaine, and approximately $21,000 in suspected drug proceeds.

Trinidad was charged with possessing and transferring a firearm, possession of an unregistered machine gun; possession of an unregistered silencer; distribution of 100 or more grams of fentanyl laced heroin; and two counts of distribution of heroin and fentanyl.

Trinidad sold a machine gun, heroin, and fentanyl to an undercover ATF agent.

Arroyo was charged with engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, possession of stolen firearms, and distribution of heroin.

An undercover ATF agent bought firearms from Arroyo on three occasions.

Jones was charged with five counts of distribution of cocaine, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and one count each possession with the intent to deliver 28 grams or more of crack cocaine and one count of possession with the intent to distribute to cocaine.

Jones sold cocaine and crack cocaine to a person assisting ATF in the investigation.

At one location associated with Jones, police seized over 375 grams of cocaine, nearly 100 grams of crack cocaine, and approximately $13,000 in cash. At another location, police seized $8,000 in cash.

Crowell was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possession with the intent to distribute marijuana.