Rhode Island State Police high intensity drug trafficking area (HIDTA) Task Force arrests convicted murderer on narcotics and firearms charges

Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, announces that members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force and West Warwick Police Friday arrested a West Warwick resident on charges of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl, cocaine, Oxycodone, Adderall, Alprazolam, morphine and OxyContin and firearms charges.

The investigation by the HIDTA Task Force resulted in a court-authorized search warrant that was executed at 12 Epworth Ave., Apt #8, West Warwick, early this morning. HIDTA Task Force members and West Warwick Police arrested Jay Scholl, 54, of 12 Epworth Avenue, Apt #8, West Warwick.

Scholl was charged with:

· One count of possession of a stolen firearm
· One count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
· One count of possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation
· Two counts of manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to manufacture or deliver one ounce to one kilogram Schedule I-II (cocaine and fentanyl)
· Seven counts of manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to manufacture or deliver Schedule II (cocaine, fentanyl, Adderall, morphine, Oxycodone, methadone and OxyContin)
· One count of manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to manufacture or deliver Schedule IV (Alprazolam)

In addition, Scholl will be presented as a probation violator based on his conviction on a murder charge stemming from a Providence Police Department investigation from July 31, 1990. At that time, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with 30 years to serve. He was released from prison on September 29, 2017.

During the search of Scholl’s residence this morning, HIDTA Task Force members and West Warwick police seized 28 grams of fentanyl, 64 grams of cocaine, 115 Oxycodone pills, 101 Adderall pills, 20 Alprazolam pills, 15 morphine sulfate pills, 7 OxyContin pills, a Springfield XD .40 caliber handgun that was reported stolen, 30 rounds of .40 caliber Smith & Wesson ammunition and various drug packaging materials associated with the distribution of narcotics. They also seized $11,368 in United States currency.

Scholl was processed at the State Police Lincoln Woods Barracks.

The HIDTA Task Force is managed by the Rhode Island State Police and comprised of members from Pawtucket Police, West Warwick Police, Lincoln Police, Middletown Police, Providence Police, North Providence Police, Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI), United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).