Mexican drug supplier-connected Rhode Island man sentenced for fentanyl trafficking

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence man who trafficked fentanyl for a Mexican drug supplier was sentenced Wednesday to five years in federal prison.

Watly Federico Valenzuela Ruiz, 39, pleaded guilty in 2023 to a charge of conspiracy to both distribute and possess with intent to distribute, fentanyl.

Valenzuela Ruiz entered into discussions to supply large amounts of fentanyl in Providence for $38,000 per kilogram in May of 2021.

He delivered approximately one kilogram of fentanyl to that person, and the drugs were seized by members of the DEA Rhode Island Drug Task Force.

Valenzuela Ruiz arranged the sale of 1,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills to an individual for $6 per pill in August of 2021.

After that delivery was completed, Valenzuela Ruiz offered to sell the individual 10,000 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills for $5.00 per pill.

9,000 pills were being delivered to Valenzuela Ruiz in September of 2021, and he, his brother-in-law and another person were arrested by DEA Drug Task Force agents.

Authorities seized 8,964 fentanyl-laced counterfeit oxycodone pills, 4.475 grams of fentanyl powder and 892.3 grams of fentanyl with 723.9 grams of tramadol cutting agent from Valenzuela Ruiz.