Rhode Island State Police arrest three in local drug trafficking organization

Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, announces that on Monday, March 26, 2018, members of the Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force arrested three (3) individuals of a Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) for possessing large quantities of heroin mixed with fentanyl and cocaine with the intent to deliver.

In December 2017, members of the HIDTA Task Force initiated an investigation into a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts that was responsible for the sale of large quantities of heroin mixed with fentanyl and cocaine.

As a result of this investigation, five (5) court-authorized search warrants were executed on and on March 26, 2018 at the following locations: 125 Niantic Avenue, Cranston; 297 Smith Street, Cranston; 91 Cumerford Street, Providence; 76 Judith Street, Providence; and 35 Lambert Street, Cranston. As a result, the following items were seized:
• Approximately 200 grams cocaine
• Approximately 55 grams heroin/fentanyl
• Approximately $33,000 in United States currency
• Six (6) motor vehicles
• Digital scales, cutting agent and packaging material associated with the distribution of narcotics

Jose M. Hernandez, age 47, of 297 Smith Street, Cranston, Rhode Island, was arrested and charged with:
o Possession with the Intent to Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance (Cocaine)
o Possession with Intent to Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance (Heroin)
o Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance 1oz-1 kilogram (Cocaine)
o Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substance 1oz-1 kilogram (Heroin)
o Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Schedule I/II Controlled Substances
o Resisting arrest

Steven Alix, age 40, of 74 Mason Avenue, Portsmouth, Rhode Island, was arrested and charged with:
o Possession with the Intent to Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance (Cocaine)
o Possession with Intent to Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance (Heroin)
o Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance 1oz-1 kilogram (Cocaine)
o Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substance 1oz-1 kilogram (Heroin)
o Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Schedule I/II Controlled Substances

Both Hernandez and Alix were arrested near Cumerford Street in Providence.

Robert Arias, age 21, of 35 Lambert Street, Cranston, Rhode Island, who was arrested on Niantic Avenue in Cranston, was charged with:
o Possession with the Intent to Deliver Schedule II Controlled Substance (Cocaine)
o Possession with Intent to Deliver Schedule I Controlled Substance (Heroin)
o Possession of Schedule II Controlled Substance 1oz-1 kilogram (Cocaine)
o Possession of Schedule I Controlled Substance 1oz-1 kilogram (Heroin)
o Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Deliver Schedule I/II Controlled Substances

Jose M. Hernandez, who was injured when he tried to flee and resisted arrest, was arraigned at Rhode Island Hospital by a Justice of the Peace and was ordered held without bail pending an official arraignment at a later date to be determined at Sixth Division District Court.

Steven Alix and Robert Arias were processed at State Police Lincoln Woods Barracks, arraigned by a Justice of the Peace and ordered held without bail. Both will be held overnight at the Adult Correctional Institutions until their formal arraignment at Sixth Division District Court on Tuesday, March 27, 2018.

The HIDTA Task Force is managed by the Rhode Island State Police and is comprised of members from Pawtucket Police, West Warwick Police, Lincoln Police, Middletown Police, the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI), United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the United States Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Also assisting in today’s operation were members of the United States Marshals Service assigned to the Violent Fugitive Task Force and members of the Cranston Police.