Rhode Island State Police arrest 8 after 4 firearms, 279 lbs. of usable marijuana, 1,781 marijuana plants, 1 pound of marijuana shatter, $79k cash seized

The Rhode Island State Police have announced that, after an extensive investigation – and with the assistance of the Rhode Island National Guard, United States Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, as well as Task Force Officers from the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Special Investigations Unit, Amtrak, Cranston, Lincoln, Middletown, Newport, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, West Warwick, and Woonsocket Police Departments – multiple court-authorized search warrants were executed throughout the state, leading to the arrest of eight individuals on charges ranging from possession of firearms and possession of narcotics.

The Rhode Island State Police initiated an investigation from an anonymous tip about an illegal marijuana grow operation. Multiple Court-authorized search warrants were obtained for multiple residences and grow operation locations in North Providence, North Scituate, Lincoln, Westerly, Providence and Woonsocket. The search warrants were executed on September 18, 2024, and four firearms, one large capacity feeding device, 279.4 pounds of usable marijuana, 922 mature marijuana plants, 859 immature marijuana plants, one pound of marijuana shatter, 468 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 11.1 grams of cocaine, 65 Oxycodone pills, thirty amphetamine pills, one motor vehicle, two motorcycles, and $79,876 were seized.

Kenneth LaFlamme, age 46, of North Providence was charged with the following:

·      Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (4 counts)  

·      Possession of a Firearm While in Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (4 counts)

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana- > 5 Kilograms (1 Count)

·      Possession of with Intent to Distribute Marijuana (1 count)

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine (1 count)

·      Possession of with Intent to Distribute Amphetamines (1 count)

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute Oxycodone (1 count)

·      Large Capacity Feeding Devices Prohibited (1 counts)

·      Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act (6 counts)

LaFlamme was arrested on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, processed at State Police Headquarters, and later arraigned at Sixth Division District Court where he was held without bail.

John Delauro, age 52, of North Scituate was charged with the following:

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II

·      Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act

Delauro was arrested on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, processed at State Police headquarters, was held at the Adult Correctional Institution pending a morning arraignment following a special arraignment from a Justice of the Peace. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Delauro was held without bail. 

David Mercier, age 59, of Narragansett was charged with the following:

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II

·      Possession of Marijuana in Excess of Five Kilograms

Mercier was arrested on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, processed at State Police headquarters, was held at the Adult Correctional Institution pending a morning arraignment following a special arraignment from a Justice of the Peace. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Mercier was released on a surety bail of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00).

Juliet Gannon, age 53, of Narragansett was charged with the following:

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II

·      Possession of Marijuana in Excess of Five Kilograms (2 counts)

·      Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act

Gannon was arrested on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, processed at State Police headquarters, was held at the Adult Correctional Institution pending a morning arraignment following a special arraignment from a Justice of the Peace. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Gannon was held without bail. 

Kevin Gannon, age 26, of Charlestown, was charged with the following:

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II

·      Possession of Marijuana in Excess of Five Kilograms

·      Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act

Gannon was arrested on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, processed at State Police headquarters, was held at the Adult Correctional Institution pending a morning arraignment following a special arraignment from a Justice of the Peace. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Gannon was held without bail. 

Marcus Wilcox, age 31, of Woonsocket, was charged with the following:

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II

·      Possession of Marijuana in Excess of Five Kilograms

·      Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act

Wilcox was arrested on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, processed at State Police headquarters, was held at the Adult Correctional Institution pending a morning arraignment following a special arraignment from a Justice of the Peace. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Wilcox was held without bail. 

Anthony Ricci, age 30, of Lincoln, was charged with the following:

·      Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II

·      Possession of Marijuana in Excess of Five Kilograms

·      Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act

Ricci was arrested on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, processed at State Police headquarters, was held at the Adult Correctional Institution pending a morning arraignment following a special arraignment from a Justice of the Peace. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Ricci was held without bail. 

Michael Moreno, age 41, of North Providence was charged with the following:

·     Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II

·     Possession of Marijuana in Excess of Five Kilograms

·     Possession with Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance – Psilocybin Mushrooms

·     Possession of a Controlled Substance – Crystal Methamphetamine < 10 Grams

Moreno was arrested on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, processed at State Police headquarters, was held at the Adult Correctional Institution pending a morning arraignment following a special arraignment from a Justice of the Peace. On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Moreno was released on a bail of $30,000.