Warwick man to serve 9 years for heroin trafficking

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — United States Attorney Zachary Cunha said that a Warwick man who was distributing heroin was sentenced to nine years in federal prison.

55-year-old Jose Manuel Rosario Mella previously pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Rosario Mella had previously been arrested in New York and used multiple names to conceal his true identity.

Cunha said Rosario Mella was arrested in August 2020 after an investigation determined that he was conducting a large-scale heroin and fentanyl trafficking operation from his Warwick residence.

Members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force surveilled Rosario Mella’s residence and eventually search but it and his vehicle, where they found a kilogram of heroin, a loaded firearm, more than $337,000 in cash, three kilo presses and other assorted items used in the packaging and distribution of drugs.

In the car there was also found to be two sophisticated hidden compartments “commonly used to conceal contraband,” including one embedded inside a child’s car seat.

Rosario Mella was sentenced to 108 months in federal prison to be followed by four years of supervised release.

The court also ordered the firearm, cash seized by law enforcement, and two vehicles to be forfeited to the government.