Extensive, undercover operation ends with 26 arrests

18-month investigation leads to local seizure of firearms, heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and methamphetamine

Twenty-six people from municipalities including Pawtucket and Cumberland were indicted following a sweeping, 18-month investigation that led to the seizure of more than two dozen firearms and significant quantities of heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine and methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Monday.

The nearly two-year investigation was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a joint effort of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Attorney’s Office; and local and state police to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes.

For the past 18 months, federal, state and local law enforcement agents and officers assigned to the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the ATF Task Force have conducted dozens of undercover investigations targeting individuals illegally obtaining or trafficking firearms and narcotics.

Recent FBI Safe Street Task Force investigations have resulted in the seizure of 17 firearms – including three AK47 and two AR-15 assault rifles – more than 300 grams of fentanyl, 300 grams of crack cocaine, 100 grams of cocaine, and 350 grams of crystal methamphetamine.

The most recent Safe Street Task Force arrests began in the pre-dawn hours last Thursday, when more than 170 federal, state and local law enforcement agents fanned out in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, seeking 16 people named in nine sealed indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Providence. The Task Force also executed seven federal court-authorized search warrants in Providence, Smithfield and New Bedford.

ATF Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigations have resulted in the seizure of 20 firearms and the indictment of 11 individuals. In a separate matter, investigated

by the ATF Task Force, four alleged members or associates of the C-Block street gang are awaiting trial for their alleged roles in a crack cocaine distribution conspiracy run from inside the Adult Correctional Institutions.

Many of the people indicted are allegedly members of, or are allegedly associated with, street gangs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

“For the past year, the Department of Justice has recommitted itself to the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, with the goal of reducing violent crime, thereby making all of our communities safer,” United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch said in a statement on Monday. “These indictments and seizures demonstrate the significant progress federal, state, and local law enforcement – working together as partners – made toward achieving that goal.”

Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Harold H. Shaw said: “These arrests should send a strong warning to gang members and violent criminals who engage in gun and drug trafficking in Providence and beyond. We’re here, we’re watching, and we will not standby and allow them to pollute our neighborhoods with guns, drugs, and crime.”

“The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force will continue working together with our law enforcement partners, to disrupt criminals and their networks who are promoting violence on our streets,” Shaw added in the statement. “After all, every law-abiding citizen should be free to walk down any street in any one of our neighborhoods without the fear of getting caught in the cross hairs of a violent crime.”

Special Agent in Charge Mickey Leadingham added: “ATF and our law enforcement partners are committed to removing the criminal element from the streets of Rhode Island. These charges are another example of the importance of law enforcement working together and supporting the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative.”

Those indicted in the FBI Safe Streets Task Force Investigations include:

• Yerry Abreu-Jimenez, 26, of Providence, arrested on Sept. 27 and ordered detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

• Syeisha Bourget, 27, of Fall River, arrested on Sept. 27 and released on unsecured bond on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

• Shawn Butler, 27, of North Attleborough, arrested on Sept. 27 and released on two counts of unsecured bond on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and eight counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

• Roosevelt Dale, 30, of Providence, arrested on Sept. 27 and detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and five counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

• Jordan Fernandes, 29, of New Bedford, arrested on Sept. 27 and released on unsecured bond on charges of two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base and four counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base.

• Amado Gonzalez, 24, of Pawtucket, arrested on Sept. 27 and released on unsecured bond on charges of conspiracy to traffic in firearms and unlicensed dealing in firearms.

• Emmanuel Maimen, 24, of Providence, arrested on Sept. 27 and released on unsecured bond on charges of conspiracy to traffic in firearms and two counts of unlicensed dealing in firearms.

• Alain Moniz, 28, of New Bedford, arrested on Sept. 27 and released on unsecured bond on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base and two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base.

• Jason Moriera, 37, of Providence, arrested on Sept. 27 and detained in federal custody for possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.

• Agustin Navedo, 30, of Providence, arrested on Sept. 27 and detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, four counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, and one count of unlicensed dealing in firearms.

• Prince Paye, 28, of Providence, arrested on Sept. 27 and ordered detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to traffic in firearms, unlicensed dealing in firearms, and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of controlled substances.

• Fernando Roche, 55, of Providence, arrested on Sept. 27 and released on unsecured bond on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

• Jean Sajous, 27, of Providence, presently in state custody on unrelated charges and arraignment pending on two counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, two counts of felon in possession of firearms, and one count of unlicensed dealing in firearms.

• Aaron Soe, 26, of Providence, arrested on Sept. 27 and ordered detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.

• Darnell Taylor, 20, of Smithfield, presently in state custody on unrelated charges and arraignment pending on two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, three counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl, and single counts of unlicensed dealing in firearms and felon in possession of firearms.

• Chanel Williams, 39, of New Bedford, arrested on Sept. 27 and detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base.

Those indicted in the ATF Task Force Investigations include:

• Lisa Ellis, 50, of Pawtucket, arrested on Aug. 16 and released on unsecured bond on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and three counts of distribution of cocaine base.

• Tariek Gill, 25, of Cumberland, arrested on Aug. 4 and released on unsecured bond with a change of plea hearing scheduled for Thursday on charges including three counts of false statements during purchases of firearms, and single counts of engaging business of dealing firearms without a license and possession of a firearm by unlawful user of a controlled substance.

• James Gomes, 29, of Pawtucket, arrested on Aug. 22 at the Adult Correctional Institutions and detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and three counts of distribution of cocaine base.

• Ademola Kayode, Jr., 26, of Warwick, arrested on March 26 and released on unsecured bond awaiting trial on three counts of false statement during purchase of firearms and possession of a firearm by user of controlled substance and one count of false statement to federal agents.

• Lucilo Mena, 56, arrested on March 23 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 21 on charges of false statements during purchases of firearms and engaging business of dealing firearms without a license.

• Joshua Moore, 28, of Pawtucket, arrested on Aug. 24 and detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and three counts of distribution of cocaine base.

• Gerald Price, 33, of Cranston, arrested on Aug. 24 and detained in federal custody on charges of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base and distribution of cocaine base.

• Darien Young, 24, of Providence, arrested on March 26, released on unsecured bond and awaiting trial on three counts each of false statement during purchase of firearms and possession of a firearm by user of controlled substance and one count of false statement to federal agents.

• Keishon Nelson, 22, of Providence, arrested on June 15 and pleaded guilty on Sept. 27 to possession of a firearm by unlawful user a controlled substance.

Additionally, warrants have been issued for the arrest of:

• Taylor Kelley, 24, of Providence, for conspiracy to traffic in firearms and unlicensed dealing in firearms.

• Jarrod Smith, 37, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl.