Rhode Island man charged with several drug trafficking and firearms offenses

Attorney General Peter Neronha has announced that a Rhode Island man has been charged in Providence County Superior Court with multiple drug trafficking and firearms offenses stemming from his arrest by the Rhode Island State Police on October 28, 2022.

On June 28, 2023, the Office of the Attorney General charged 23-year-old Emanuel Martinez of Woonsocket by way of criminal information, with one count of possession with intent to deliver cocaine, one count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, and three counts of possession of a firearm while possessing with intent to deliver cocaine and/or marijuana.

As alleged in the criminal information, between August and October 2022, the RISP High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force began investigating Martinez who they suspected to be involved in drug distribution in Rhode Island.

On October 28, 2022, members of the HIDTA task force executed a warrant at Martinez’s apartment in Woonsocket. As alleged in the criminal information, investigators apprehended him inside the apartment and conducted a search of the residence.

It is alleged that investigators found and seized quantities of cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia, as well as a Glock 33 .357 caliber semi-automatic handgun, a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, a Taurus .38 caliber revolver, and additional pistol magazines and ammunition.

As further alleged, after his arrest, Martinez alerted investigators that he possessed three additional firearms at his mother’s apartment, also in Woonsocket. Allegedly, after he provided consent to enter that apartment, they located a Glock 45 semi-automatic handgun, an Aero Xl5 semi-automatic rifle, and a Mossberg pump-action shotgun.

It is alleged that the State Forensic Chemistry lab confirmed the presence of cocaine and marijuana in the drugs seized from Martinez’s apartment.

He is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on September 13, 2023, in Providence County Superior Court.