Westport man arrested in overdose death, Fall River man also arrested

Newport Police have announced the arrest of two local men. One of which is being charged in a drug overdose death.

According to Lt. Frank Rosa, on September 10th at approximately 11:23 p.m., Newport Patrol Officers were dispatched to 15 Meeting Street for a reported overdose. Upon arrival, officers and Newport Fire Department Personnel treated the victim, a 29 year old Newport resident. The victim was transported to the Newport Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased on September 11th. Six blue glassine bags of Fentanyl were located with the victim at 15 Meeting Street.

An autopsy conducted by the Rhode Island Department of Health revealed that the cause of death for the victim was determined to be Fentanyl Intoxication. Detectives from the Newport Police Special Crimes Unit continued the investigation into this death and developed a cooperating witness who was with the Victim on September 10th when they purchased Fentanyl in a parking lot in Portsmouth RI. During this investigation, the dealer was subsequently identified as Cary Pacheco, 54, of 251 Briggs Road in Westport MA.

Search warrants obtained for the cellular phone of Pacheco and the victim, along with a GPS ankle monitor that Pacheco was wearing at the time, placed the victim and Pacheco at this parking lot in Portsmouth, RI on September 10th 2018 at 7:30 p.m.

As the investigation continued, on November 29, through a series of controlled telephone calls and text messages, the cooperating witness, along with an undercover Newport Police Detective, arranged to purchase 20 blue glassine bags of Fentanyl from Pacheco for $115.00. A meeting place and time in Newport at 10:00 a.m. was established for the transaction.

Pacheco arrived on that date and time to make the delivery as planned with another male, identified as Michael Vandenburgh, 49, of Durfee Street in Fall River. Pacheco directed Vandenburgh to sell the Fentanyl to the cooperating witness and the undercover detective. After the delivery of Fentanyl was completed, Pacheco and Vandenburgh were arrested and taken into custody. During a search, Pacheco had another 61 blue glassine bags of Fentanyl on his person at the time of the arrest.

Pacheco is being charged with Controlled Substance Delivery resulting in Death known as Kristen’s Law, which is in relation to the victims death in September 2018. This is the first time an individual has been charged under Kristen’s Law in Rhode Island since it was signed into law earlier this year. Pacheco has also been charged with Delivery of Heroin, Controlled Substance Conspiracy, and Possession with Intent Deliver a Controlled Substance.
Vandenburgh is being charged with Delivery of Heroin and Controlled substance Conspiracy for the November 29, 2018 controlled purchase by detectives.

Both Pacheco and Vandenburgh will appear in Newport County District Court later today for initial arraignment on the above charges.