Local man arrested after recently getting out of prison, sentenced

PROVIDENCE – A former Pawtucket man who, while incarcerated in the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI), made arrangements for the disposal of a firearm stored at his residence, and within six weeks of his release from state prison in April 2019 was arrested for twice selling crack cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer who lived in Massachusetts, was sentenced today to 5 years in federal prison.

Shortly after his release from the ACI on April 11, 2018, Ricardo Dominquez, 24, contacted the same undercover out-of-state law enforcement officer that purchased his firearm and offered to sell him crack cocaine. Dominquez was arrested on May 22, 2018, for twice selling crack cocaine to the law enforcement officer.

Dominquez pleaded guilty on April 12, 2019, to two counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge William E. Smith to 60 months in federal prison to be followed by 4 years of supervised release.

Gary Pagnozzi, 60, of Pawtucket, admitted to selling Dominquez’s .44 caliber revolver along with 3.5 grams of crack cocaine to the undercover law enforcement officer on April 5, 2018. Dominquez had called Pagnozzi from inside the ACI and asked him to retrieve and sell the firearm. He sold it that same day for $500 along with 3.5 grams of crack cocaine for $200.

Pagnozzi was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on September 12, 2019, to one year and a day in federal prison, to be followed by three years supervised release, the first six months to be served in a Pawtucket residential reentry center.

Dominquez and Pagnozzi’s sentences are announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman and Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Kelly D. Brady.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Milind M. Shah. The matters were investigated by ATF and the Rhode Island ATF Task Force.

United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman thanks the Department of Corrections for their assistance in the investigation of Ricardo Dominquez and Gary Pagnozzi.