Woonsocket man sentenced to 8 years for drug trafficking

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — United States Attorney Zachary Cunha said that a Woonsocket man was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for trafficking “significant quantities” of fentanyl and for being in possession of ammunition.

34-year-old Gregory Ortega pled guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition.

Cunha added that Ortega was previously convicted twice in Rhode Island, and last completed a sentence of incarceration at the Adult Correctional Institutions in 2019.

Shortly after being released, Ortega continued to operate a drug trafficking business by storing drugs in various family members’ residences and used runners to deliver drugs.

He also sold “several thousand dollars'” worth of fentanyl to a person assisting the FBI Safe Streets Task Force in the investigation.

Cunha said that on March 16, 2022, members of the Safe Streets Task Force executed court-authorized searches and seized approximately 575 grams of fentanyl from Ortega’s vehicle and 745 grams of fentanyl from his grandmother’s house, as well as a privately made firearm and 14 rounds of ammunition.