Convicted Felon Sentenced to 6.5 Years in Federal Prison for Gun Charges

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – In a shocking turn of events, convicted felon James Darosa, 30 was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his involvement in a brazen gun trafficking operation. Darosa’s sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith, will be followed by three years of federal supervised release.

The case began on February 17, 2022, when members of the East Providence Police Department Special Investigations Unit (SIU) observed Darosa placing a suitcase containing 14 firearms in the trunk of a rideshare vehicle. The SIU surveillance team watched as Darosa boarded the vehicle as a passenger, and a short time later, East Providence Police initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle.

As officers approached, Darosa made a desperate attempt to evade arrest by jumping off a bridge into the Providence River. With the assistance of Providence Police and Rhode Island State Police, Darosa was located along the shoreline and arrested. The suitcase containing the 14 firearms was recovered, and it was found to include 13 handguns, four of which were reported stolen and one semi-automatic rifle with an obliterated serial number.

Darosa pleaded guilty to a federal charge of being a felon in possession of firearms on January 5, 2023. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney G. Michael Seaman. United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Providence Police Department, and the Rhode Island State Police for their investigation and assistance in this matter.

This case was being prosecuted as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, a joint federal, state, and local initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. The PSN program focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

The PSN Program has proven to be effective in reducing violent crime, and this case is just one example of the program’s success. By working together, law enforcement agencies and community partners can make a real difference in keeping our communities safe.

Darosa’s sentence serves as a warning to those who would attempt to traffic firearms and put the public at risk.

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