Rhode Island State Police HIDTA Task Force arrest five men held without bail on narcotics and firearms charges

The Rhode Island State Police has announced that on Friday, the Rhode Island State Police HIDTA Task Force, assisted by members of the Violent Fugitive Task Force, Pawtucket Police Department Special Squad Narcotics Unit, Providence Police Department Violent Crime Task Force, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Providence Resident Office concluded a narcotics and firearms investigation within the Cities of Pawtucket and Providence. This investigation was initiated into an organized criminal group operating within these areas who have been alleged to be associated with violent firearms-related offenses and narcotics trafficking. As a result, numerous court-authorized search warrants were executed during the early morning hours at Prospect Street, Pawtucket, Glenham Street, Providence, and Andy Street, Providence

During the execution of the court-authorized search warrants, members of law enforcement seized three illegal 9mm firearms with considerable amounts of ammunition. Two of the illegal firearms were equipped with illegal auto-sear devices, or “sear switches”. These small devices, typically made of plastic or metal on a 3D printer, modify a semi-automatic handgun to be a fully automatic machine gun, allowing a user to pull the trigger of a firearm once for continuous firing. Members of the HIDTA Task Force also seized an extended magazine, ammunition, over one ounce of Cocaine, Fentanyl, Amphetamine, Marijuana, equipment utilized to process and manufacture illegal narcotics, and almost $20,000 US Currency.

The following subjects were charged with numerous narcotics and firearms charges, arraigned at 6th District Court, and held without bail. 

Juan Pagan, age 21, of 560 Prospect Heights Apartment #364, Pawtucket

Jayvante Santos, age 20, of 560 Prospect Heights Apartment #161, Pawtucket

Christian Rodriguez, age 25, of 560 Prospect Heights Apartment #361, Pawtucket

Jason Delacruz, age 21, of 560 Prospect Heights Apartment #85, Pawtucket

Yadriel Delacruz, age 18, of 50 Andy Street, Providence

Weapons charges include the Possession of Machine Guns, Modifications of Semi-Automatic Weapons, Possession of Firearms While Committing Controlled Substance Violations, and Large Capacity Feeding Devices Prohibited. Narcotics charges include the Possession With the Intent to Deliver over 1 oz of a Schedule II Controlled Substance – Cocaine, and the Possession With the Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances – Fentanyl, Cocaine, Amphetamine, and Marijuana.

This seizure is the direct result of collaborative efforts between numerous law enforcement agencies assisting the Rhode Island State Police in their pursuit of violent, and often armed narcotics distributors. The success of these

investigations is attributed to the partnerships of the Rhode Island State Police and Drug Enforcement Administration, and the participating agencies in their respective Task Forces.

The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force is comprised of members from the Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police Department, Cranston Police Department, North Providence Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration and Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program.