State Police arrest 7, seize over 4.5 kilos of drugs, 3 firearms, multiple extended magazines, considerable amounts of ammo

The Rhode Island State Police have announced that the Rhode Island State Police HIDTA Task Force, assisted by members of the RISP Detective Bureau, Pawtucket Police Department Special Squad Narcotics Unit, Providence Police Department, Central Falls Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration Providence Resident Office and the Attorney General’s Office concluded a narcotics and firearms investigation that included locations in Pawtucket, Providence, Woonsocket and Barrington.

This investigation was focused on an organized criminal group known as the “Bucket West” street gang which is alleged to be associated with violent firearms related offenses and narcotics trafficking.

During the execution of the court-authorized search warrants, members of law enforcement seized three illegal firearms with considerable amounts of ammunition. One of the firearms was reported stolen and one had an obliterated serial number. Members of the HIDTA Task Force also seized multiple extended magazines, to include a 50 round drum pistol magazine, 4.5 kilograms of marijuana, over an ounce of MDMA, Fentanyl, crack cocaine, and narcotics packaging material. 

Weapons charges include the Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons Prohibited, Possession of Firearms While Committing Controlled Substance Violations, Possession of Stolen Firearms, Possession of Firearms with Obliterated Serial Numbers, 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 – MDMA, Possession with the Intent to Deliver 1-5 kilograms of Marijuana, and the Possession With the Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances – Fentanyl and Crack Cocaine.

As a result of this investigation, the following members of the Bucket West Gang were arrested:

• Larenz Brantley, age 22, Providence
• Addison Brito, age 33, Pawtucket
• Alexander Cardarelli, age 26, Barrington
• Neshion Cook, age 21, Pawtucket
• Mekhi Henderson, age 27, Woonsocket
• Ebrima Jatta, age 29, Pawtucket
• Hassan Jatta, age 29, Pawtucket

Ebrima Jatta was also arrested for an affidavit and arrest warrant from the Pawtucket Police Department for Assault with the Intent to Commit Robbery, Armed Robbery, Breaking and Entering – Occupied Dwelling, Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle, and Conspiracy. These charges were the result of an investigation by the Pawtucket Police Department into a recent armed home invasion in their city.

During the last year, the Rhode Island State Police HIDTA Task Force has conducted dozens of search warrants targeting members of violent criminal gangs including Bucket West, Bucket East, Chad Brown, M-Way and G-Way. These investigations have resulted in the arrest of 14 gang members and the seizure of 14 firearms, large amounts of ammunition, dozens of extended magazines, and devices than convert a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic machine gun. These seizures are 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 with its local and federal partners and the Attorney General’s Office. 

The Rhode Island State Police High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area 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.