Previously convicted drug trafficker sentenced to prison in Rhode Island for trafficking large quantities of fentanyl

PROVIDENCE, RI – A North Providence woman described in a court document as being “a seasoned drug dealer with connections to other high-level dealers” and who, court records show, was previously convicted in both Rhode Island state and federal courts on drug trafficking charges, was sentenced today to eight-and-one-half years in federal prison for trafficking fentanyl, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Lisa Torres, 55, pleaded guilty on February 21, 2024, to charges of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl. She was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 102 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release.

According to information provided to the court, in this most recent matter, Torres was arrested by Providence Police and members of the FBI Safe Streets Task Force on December 7, 2022, when she arrived at a prearranged location to deliver a kilogram of fentanyl to another individual. In the investigation, law enforcement confirmed she was trafficking large quantities of drugs and had international ties to the Dominican Republic and elsewhere. Law enforcement discovered photographs on her cellphone which appeared to show kilogram quantities of fentanyl, as well as communications about cutting and packaging fentanyl.

According to court documents, Torres was convicted in 1993 in Rhode Island state court and in 1994 in U.S. District Court on drug trafficking charges; in 2007 in U.S. District Court on charges of obstruction of justice, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and making false statements; and in 2009 in U.S District Court on a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

This most recent case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stacey A. Erickson and Julianne Klein.

The matter was investigated by the Providence Police Department and the FBI Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force.

The FBI Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force is comprised of members of the FBI, Central Falls Police Department, Woonsocket Police Department, Pawtucket Police Department, West Warwick Police Department, Cranston Police Department, and the United States Marshals Service