PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A nineteen-year-old man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly peddling guns and enough fentanyl to kill thousands across Rhode Island and Connecticut. Daniel Alexander Smith, of Windsor, Connecticut, was arrested September 26th and is being held without bail after a grand jury indictment revealed a brazen trafficking operation spanning several months.
According to court documents, Smith allegedly sold a deadly combination of firearms and the potent opioid fentanyl between late February and May 2023. The Rhode Island FBI Safe Streets Task Force had Smith under surveillance during the alleged transactions, swiftly seizing the contraband after each deal. The indictment details four transactions within Rhode Island, including an AK-47, a Glock 26, a High Standard revolver, a Taurus 9mm handgun, and two .22 caliber pistols, alongside approximately 40 grams of fentanyl.
The alleged criminal activity didn’t stop at the state border. The fifth and final transaction, according to prosecutors, took place in the District of Connecticut, where Smith allegedly offloaded a Glock 19x pistol, a High Standard shotgun, and another 51 grams of fentanyl. That brings the total fentanyl allegedly trafficked by Smith to a staggering 91 grams – a quantity capable of delivering lethal doses to a significant number of people. The quick action of the Safe Streets Task Force prevented these weapons and drugs from hitting the streets.
The bust didn’t end with the alleged sales. A court-authorized search of Smith’s vehicle turned up a loaded Glock 22 firearm equipped with a sear switch, converting it to an automatic weapon, and a high-capacity 22-round magazine. This discovery paints a picture of a defendant willing to deal in particularly dangerous weaponry. The presence of the sear switch dramatically escalates the potential for violence associated with this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Julie M. White is prosecuting the case, which is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by fostering collaboration between law enforcement and communities. The investigation was conducted by the FBI Rhode Island Safe Streets Task Force, comprised of agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshals, and multiple Rhode Island police departments, alongside the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
It’s important to remember that an indictment is merely an accusation, and Smith is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence presented thus far suggests a dangerous individual actively contributing to the flow of illegal firearms and deadly drugs. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds.
Related Federal Cases
- Scott Liff, Gun-for-Crack Cocaine Trafficking, CT 2024 · Connecticut
- Aderito Patrick Amado, Fentanyl Trafficking, Massachusetts 2024 · Rhode Island
- Joshua Roman, Fentanyl and Cocaine Trafficking, Connecticut 2024 · Rhode Island
- Brian McCarthy, Ghost Gun Trafficking, Massachusetts 2024 · New York
- WILSON VELEZ, Fentanyl Trafficking, Connecticut 2017-2018 · Connecticut
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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