PROVIDENCE, RI – A Pawtucket man is cooling his heels in federal lockup after allegedly building a financial pipeline for a prolific drug trafficker. Donald Wicklund, 32, is accused of using stolen identities and forged documents to secure financing for at least four new vehicles, three of which wound up in the hands of Ramon Delossantos, the alleged kingpin of a fentanyl and cocaine ring stretching across three states.
Wicklund was arraigned today and ordered detained by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Patricia A. Sullivan on a five-count indictment charging him with aggravated identity theft, five counts of fraudulent use of a social security number, three counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and two counts of wire fraud. The case is a joint effort by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Secret Service, and the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General.
Between March 31 and May 24, 2017, court documents allege Wicklund wasn’t just stealing names, he was stealing futures. He allegedly used the personal information – including the social security numbers of two minor children – to obtain financing for new cars, a pick-up truck, and even a three-wheel motorcycle in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The scheme involved falsified documents and addresses, designed to fly under the radar of lenders.
But Wicklund’s alleged fraud didn’t end with vehicle financing. Authorities claim he also used stolen identities to open a bank account and obtain a debit card at a Rhode Island credit union. The connection to Delossantos, 24 of Cumberland, RI, and his massive drug operation, known as “Operation Panamera,” is what truly tightened the noose. Law enforcement had already arrested at least 25 individuals connected to the drug ring, and Wicklund’s name quickly surfaced as a key enabler.
Delossantos’ organization allegedly distributed hundreds of kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Three of the vehicles Wicklund allegedly financed – a car, the pick-up truck, and the motorcycle – were traced back to Delossantos’ possession. The motorcycle, investigators discovered, had been shipped all the way to the Dominican Republic. Another of the cars purchased by Wicklund was later found registered in Texas.
This case initially bubbled up during an investigation of Reynaldo Martinez, 25 of Central Falls, who was indicted on similar identity theft and fraud charges back in August. Martinez is accused of using stolen information to open retail store credit cards and lines of credit, racking up tens of thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases. Wicklund’s arrest underscores the link between seemingly disparate crimes – identity theft isn’t just about stolen credit cards, it can be a crucial funding source for far more dangerous enterprises. Both Wicklund and Martinez remain detained as the investigations continue.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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