Chanel Williams, Crack Cocaine Trafficking, Rhode Island 2018

A New Bedford man has been sentenced to 42 months in federal prison for trafficking crack cocaine in Rhode Island.

Chanel Williams, 41, pleaded guilty on December 4, 2019, to possession with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base. At sentencing on Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith sentenced Williams to 42 months in federal prison to be followed by five years supervised release.

The crime took place on February 13, 2018, when Williams and another New Bedford man traveled to Pawtucket to deliver the drugs. The delivery was electronically monitored by members of the FBI's Safe Streets Violent Gang Task Force and Providence Police.

According to court documents, Williams had previously admitted to the court that he and another individual had used Facebook communications to seek crack cocaine in Pawtucket. Williams remained inside the vehicle while Jordan Fernandes, 30, went inside a residence to deliver the drugs.

Williams' sentence is announced by United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division Joseph R. Bonavolonta, and Providence Police Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr.

Jordan Fernandes, who pleaded guilty on February 3, 2020, to two counts of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 28 grams or more of cocaine base, three counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of 28 grams or more of cocaine base, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, is awaiting sentencing.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Helen H. Lee and Terrence P. Donnelly.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ri/pr/new-bedford-man-sentenced-trafficking-crack-cocaine