Scott Arnum, a 30-year-old Providence man, has pleaded guilty to armed drug trafficking charges in federal court. Arnum was stopped by Pawtucket Police on September 17, 2017, after failing to use a turn signal and stopping short of pulling out in front of a police cruiser. During the traffic stop, officers discovered a large bag of marijuana and six bags of crack cocaine inside Arnum’s clothing. A seventh bag fell out of Arnum’s underwear after he was transported to the police station.
Officers also found a loaded 9mm pistol and two loaded 9mm magazines inside the vehicle’s glovebox. Arnum was previously convicted in federal court for possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In December 2010, Arnum was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
Arnum appeared in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge William E. Smith, where he pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The charges were announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s New England Field Division Brian D. Boyle, and Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Kelly D. Brady.
Arnum is scheduled to be sentenced on December 6, 2019. The charges carry statutory penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison followed by at least 3 years supervised release for possession of crack cocaine. Additionally, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years up to life imprisonment consecutive to any other sentence imposed in this matter followed by up to 5 years supervised release. Felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to 10 years of incarceration followed by up to 3 years supervised release.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative. The PSN program focuses on reducing violent crime by identifying the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and developing comprehensive solutions to address them.
As a convicted felon, Arnum’s possession of a firearm and large quantities of cocaine is a serious offense. The investigation and subsequent prosecution of Arnum are a testament to the commitment of law enforcement agencies in Rhode Island to keeping their communities safe.
Arnum’s guilty plea marks another success for the PSN program, which has proven to be effective in reducing violent crime in communities across the country.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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