Warwick man pleads guilty to fentanyl trafficking

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom said that a Warwick man admitted to trafficked fentanyl-laced pills disguised as Percocet.

23-year-old Preston Quintanilha was charged with possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and attempt to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

Quintanilha was arrested on May 28, 2024 following a joint federal and local law enforcement investigation into his drug trafficking operation.

Bloom said that on Sept. 28, 2023, law enforcement executed multiple search warrants and seized 999 fentanyl-laced pills , a bag of suspected crack cocaine, $5,830 in cash from his residence, as well as 1,003 fentanyl-laced pills  from a Pawtucket apartment he used to store narcotic drugs, and $4,232 in cash from his person.

The United States Postal Service also intercepted a package addressed to Quintanilla on April 16, 2024 that contained 9,998 fentanyl-laced pills.

Quintanilla is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 30.