PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Juan G. Catala, 41, of Johnston, Rhode Island, admitted to running a ruthless oxycodone trafficking operation, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Catala pleaded guilty in federal court in Providence today to four counts of distributing oxycodone and one count of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
According to court documents, an individual assisting law enforcement made at least four purchases of oxycodone tablets from Catala between January 2016 and March 2016. The electronic surveillance revealed a total of 39 to 87 oxycodone tablets in each transaction.
On July 6, 2016, FDA Task Force agents executed a search warrant at Catala’s Johnston residence and uncovered 65 pounds of marijuana, $13,000 in cash, and several empty prescription bottles containing oxycodone tablets.
The sheer scope of Catala’s operation is staggering. The seizure of $13,000 in cash, combined with the 65 pounds of marijuana, paints a picture of a well-oiled machine.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald R. Gendron, who will undoubtedly push for maximum sentencing in the hopes of deterring future crime.
The FDA Task Force, consisting of agents and officers from various law enforcement agencies, deserves credit for dismantling Catala’s operation. Their tireless efforts will hopefully send a message to those involved in similar activities.
Catala is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., on January 5, 2017.
The investigation and subsequent arrest of Juan G. Catala serve as a stark reminder of the dangers of oxycodone trafficking and the devastating impact it has on communities.
As the Grimy Times continues to shine a light on the dark underbelly of crime, it is clear that the fight against oxycodone trafficking is far from over.
Related Federal Cases
- John Williams Gets 70 Months for Cocaine-Oxycodone Ring · Rhode Island
- Rhode Island Man Sentenced to Decades in Fentanyl Trafficking Ring · Texas
- Warwick Man Sentenced to Ruin for Fentanyl Trafficking Ring · Rhode Island
- New Bedford Gym Owner Sharik Mendes Sentenced in Heroin Ring · Massachusetts
- Michael Bermudez Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl-Laced Heroin Trafficking · Rhode Island
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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