26 Individuals indicted, more than two dozen firearms seized in FBI, ATF, US Attorney’s Office Project Safe Neighborhoods investigations

PROVIDENCE, RI – Twenty-six individuals have been indicted and more than two-dozen firearms, including three AK-47 and two AR-15 assault rifles, along with significant quantities of heroin, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine have been seized in a series of Project Safe Neighborhoods federal investigations into firearm and drug trafficking in and around Providence. The list includes residents of Fall River, New Bedford, Pawtucket, and Providence.

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

Many of the individuals are members of or associated with street gangs.

Project Safe Neighborhoods is a federal, state and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes in our neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a proven program with demonstrated results,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. “We know that the most effective strategy to reduce violent crime is based on sound policing policies that have proven effective over many years, which includes being targeted and responsive to community needs. I have empowered our United States Attorneys to focus enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals in their districts, and directed that they work together with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners to develop tailored solutions to the unique violent crime problems they face. Each United States Attorney has prioritized the PSN program, and I am confident that it will continue to reduce crime, save lives, and restore safety to our communities.”

“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,” said United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch. He added, “These indictments and seizures demonstrate the significant progress federal, state and local law enforcement, working together as partners, made toward achieving that goal.”

Recent FBI Safe Street Task Force investigations have resulted in the seizure of seventeen firearms, including three AK-47 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 of last Thursday, when more than 170 federal, state and local law enforcement agents, including multiple SWAT Teams, fanned out in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts seeking sixteen individuals named in nine sealed indictments returned by a federal grand jury in Providence. The Task Force also executed a total of seven federal court-authorized search warrants in Providence, Smithfield and New Bedford.

“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,” said Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Harold H. Shaw. “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. 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 crosshairs of a violent crime.”

ATF Task Force Project Safe Neighborhoods investigations have, to date, resulted in the seizure of twenty firearms and the indictment of eleven individuals. Among those arrested during a year-long investigation to identify individuals possessing or trafficking firearms, particularly in and around the Chad Brown neighborhood.

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 ACI.

“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,” commented Special Agent in Charge Mickey Leadingham.

Projected Safe Neighborhoods cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard W. Rose, Milind H. Shah, Ly T. Chin, Dulce Donovan, Gerard B. Sullivan, Terrence Donnelly, and Ronald R. Gendron.

The FBI Safe Street Task Force is comprised of law enforcement agents and officers from the FBI, Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police Department, Cranston Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, Central Falls Police Department and the Special Investigations Unit of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.

The ATF Task Force is comprised of law enforcement agents and officers from ATF, Providence Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, Rhode Island State Police and the Special Investigations Unit of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.

United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch and FBI Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw acknowledge and thank the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office, Fall River Police Department, New Bedford Police Department, North Attleboro Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Rhode Island Fusion Center and the United States Marshals Service for their assistance in the execution of arrest and search warrants on Thursday.

The following have been indicted:

Yerry Abreu-Jimenez, 26
Providence, RI
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Arrested 9/27/18; ordered detained in federal custody

Syeisha Bourget, 27
Fall River, MA
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (2 counts)
Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond

Shawn Butler, 27
North Attleborough, MA
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (2 counts)
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (8 counts)
Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond

Roosevelt Dale, 30
Providence, RI
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (5 counts)
Arrested 9/27/18; detained in federal custody

Jordan Fernandes, 29
New Bedford, MA
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (2 counts)
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (4 counts)
Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond

Amado Gonzalez a/k/a “Gunz” 24
Pawtucket, RI
Conspiracy to Traffic in Firearms
Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms
Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond

Emmanuel Maimen a/k/a “Black” 24
Providence, RI
Conspiracy to Traffic in Firearms
Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms (2 counts)
Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond

Alain Moniz, 28
New Bedford, MA
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (2 counts)
Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond

Jason Moriera, 37
Providence, RI
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine
Arrested 9/27/18; detained in federal custody

Agustin Navedo a/k/a “Fatso” 30
Providence, RI
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (4 counts)
Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms
Arrested 9/27/18; detained in federal custody

Prince Paye, 28
Providence, RI
Conspiracy to Traffic in Firearms
Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms
Possession of a Firearm By an Unlawful User of Controlled Substances
Arrested 9/27/18; ordered detained in federal custody

Fernando Roche, 55
Providence, RI
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Arrested 9/27/18; released on unsecured bond

Jean Sajous a/k/a “Beanz” 27
Providence, RI
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (2 counts)
Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms
Felon in possession of firearms (2 counts)
Presently in state custody on unrelated charges; arraignment pending

Aaron Soe, 26
Providence, RI
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl
Arrested 9/27/18; ordered detained in federal custody

Darnell Taylor, 20
Smithfield, RI
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (2 counts)
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of fentanyl (3 counts)
Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms
Felon in possession of firearms
Presently in state custody on unrelated charges; arraignment pending

Chanel Williams, 39
New Bedford, MA
Conspiracy to Possess with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base
Possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base
Arrested 9/27/18; detained in federal custody

Warrants have been issued for the arrest of”

Taylor Kelley, 24
Providence, RI
Conspiracy to Traffic in Firearms
Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms
Indictment returned 9/20/18

Jarrod Smith a/k/a “Champ Sosa” 37
Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Fentanyl
Possession with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Fentanyl
Indictment returned 9/20/18
ATF Task Force Investigations

Lisa Ellis, 50
Pawtucket, RI
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base
Distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base
Distribution of cocaine base (3 counts)
Arrested 8/16/18; released on unsecured bond

Tariek Gill, 25
Cumberland, RI
False statements during purchases of firearms (3 counts)
Engaging business of dealing firearms without a license
Possession of a firearm by unlawful user a controlled substance
Arrested 8/4/18; released on unsecured bond; change of plea hearing scheduled Oct. 4, 2018

James Gomes, 29
Pawtucket, RI
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base
Distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base
Distribution of cocaine base (3 counts)
Arrested 8/22/18 (at ACI); detained in federal custody

Ademola Kayode, Jr., 26
Warwick, RI
False Statement During Purchase of Firearms (3 counts)
Possession of a Firearm by User of Controlled Substance (3 counts)
False Statement to Federal Agents
Arrested 3/26/18; released on unsecured bond; awaiting trial (November trial calendar)

Lucilo Mena, 56
False statements during purchases of firearms
Engaging business of dealing firearms without a license
Arrested 3/23/18; pleaded guilty 9/21/18; sentencing hearing scheduled on 12/21/18

Joshua Moore, 28
Pawtucket, RI
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base
Distribution of Cocaine Base (3 counts)
Arrested 8/24/18; detained in federal custody

Gerald Price, 33
Cranston, RI
Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base
Distribution of Cocaine Base
Arrested 8/24/18; detained in federal custody

Darien Young, 24
Providence, RI
False Statement During Purchase of Firearms (3 counts)
Possession of a Firearm by User of Controlled Substance (3 counts)
False Statement to Federal Agents
Arrested 3/26/18; released on unsecured bond; awaiting trial (January 2019 trial calendar)

Keishon Nelson, 22
Providence, RI
Possession of a firearm by unlawful user a controlled substance
Arrested 6/15/18; pleaded guilty 9/27/18; sentencing hearing scheduled on 1/11/19