Woonsocket man sentenced for drug trafficking for third time

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Woonsocket man was sentenced to eight years in federal prison today for trafficking fentanyl according to U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

34-year-old Gregory Ortega of Woonsocket was sentenced for trafficking fentanyl and for having ammunition when prohibited. Ortega has been sentenced twice before in Rhode Island for trafficking drugs.

Ortega pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess more than 40 grams of fentanyl back in May according to Cunha.

Back in 2019, officials say Ortega completed a term of incarceration and continued to operate a narcotics business in the Woonsocket area. FBI Safe Streets Task Force investigators said Ortega stored drugs at family members’ houses and used runners to distribute to his customers.

On March 16, 2022, a court-authorized search found approximately 575 grams of fentanyl in Ortega’s vehicle, as well as 745 grams in his grandmother’s house according to officials. Along with a privately made gun and 14 rounds of ammunition in Ortega’s residence.

Ortega’s eight years will be followed by four years of federal supervised release.