Rhode Island man possessed nearly half a kilo of fentanyl with infants present 6 months after arrest in Nebraska with 10 kilos of cocaine

PROVIDENCE, RI – A Providence man who was found in possession of nearly half of a kilo of fentanyl that he kept stored inside an apartment he shared with five other individuals, including two babies, has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Stanli S. Arias De La Rosa 31, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 71 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of federal supervised release. He pleaded guilty on April 30, 2024, to a charge of possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl.

Arias was arrested by members of the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force in March 2023, six months after being arrested by the York County Sheriffs’ Office in Nebraska during a traffic stop after discovering approximately 10 kilos of cocaine inside a vehicle that he was driving. Arias failed to return to Nebraska to face those charges after being released following his court arraignment.

According to information presented to the court, in March 2023, a West Warwick Detective who also served a member of the DEA Drug Task Force developed information targeting the location of a high-level drug supplier. On March 10, 2023, authorities conducted a court-authorized search of Arias’ Providence residence and found narcotics strewn about the apartment. Seized were approximately 454.9 grams of fentanyl, 43 grams of cocaine, 14.5 grams of crack cocaine, digital scales, and other items used in the preparation and distribution of narcotics. 

Present in the apartment at the time of the search were two mothers and their infants and an adult male.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Christine D. Lowell.

The matter was investigated by the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force and the Smithfield Police Department.