Woonsocket man among 2 indicted after cocaine sting
PROVIDENCE — A federal grand jury in Providence on Thursday returned a twocount indictment charging two Florida men with conspiring to traffic cocaine in connection with the seizure during an investigation of more than 19 kilograms of cocaine allegedly shipped to Rhode Island from Puerto Rico.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Shelly A. Binkowski, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Boston Division; and Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, announced the indictment of Rinaxo M. Rufino, 33, of Miramar, Florida, and Gabriel Concepcion, 27, of Kissimmee, Florida, charging conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Additionally, Concepcion was charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, according to the law enforcement members.
The indictment followed an investigation by U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Inspectors and members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area ( HIDTA) Task Force that resulted in the seizure of more than 19 kilograms of cocaine allegedly shipped from Puerto Rico to residences in Providence, Woonsocket and Central Falls, according to Dambruch’s spokesman, Jim Martin.
Rufino and Conception were arrested on Aug. 26 and ordered detained in federal custody following initial appearances the next day in U.S. District Court in Providence.
According to court documents and information presented to the Court, beginning on Aug. 7, USPIS Inspectors intercepted five shipments of cocaine in various sized packages allegedly shipped from Puerto Rico to addresses in Providence, Woonsocket and Central Falls. Each of the packages were addressed to individuals not associated with the address to which the packages were shipped. In each instance, a police K-9 detected the odor of narcotics in the packages prior to delivery. The packages were seized as a result of the investigation.
Rufino was arrested at a Central Falls residence on Aug. 26, moments after he allegedly took possession of a package that he believed contained approximately 3 kilograms of cocaine. Concepcion was arrested moments later after he was stopped by a Rhode Island State Police trooper as he allegedly drove away from the area of the residence. A loaded firearm was allegedly located in Conception’s vehicle.
It is alleged that Rufino and Concepcion, who had been under law enforcement surveillance for some time, were seen surveilling the area of the Central Falls residence prior to and after the package was left on the doorstep of the residence by a U.S. Postal carrier. Prior to the delivery of the package, USPIS Inspectors had removed the cocaine.
Before the arrest of Rufino and Concepcion, USPIS Postal Inspectors also took custody of packages allegedly containing cocaine earmarked for delivery to other residences in Providence, Central Falls and Woonsocket.
The investigation began this April, when a package mailed from Providence to Puerto Rico was intercepted by USPIS Inspectors after a police K-9 allegedly reacted positively for the presence of the odor of narcotics.