A major player in the largest cocaine bust in Rhode Island history has been sentenced to 15 years and a half in federal prison. Andrew Rios, 41, of California, was arrested in January 2011 in connection with the seizure of 65 kilos of cocaine and more than $1.2 million in cash. This bust was the single largest seizure of cocaine in Rhode Island.
U.S. District Court Judge William E. Smith also ordered Rios to serve 5 years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term. Rios pleaded guilty on October 1, 2012, to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one count of possessing with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Two other defendants who were arrested with Rios previously pleaded guilty to trafficking charges and have been sentenced to lengthy federal prison sentences. Armando Saucedo, 33, of California, was sentenced on November 1, 2012, to 156 months in prison; Adilson A. Reyes, 31, of Utah, was sentenced November 5, 2012, to 135 months in prison.
The massive cocaine bust began in September 2010, when federal, state and local law enforcement agents, working in conjunction with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, developed information about the trafficking of cocaine from outside of Rhode Island into the state.
Law enforcement monitored activity at hotels in West Greenwich and Pawtucket, at a storage facility in North Kingstown, and several vehicles. In January 2011, law enforcement agents executed court authorized searches of the storage facility in North Kingstown and of two vehicles. 65 kilos of cocaine, $1.2 million in cash and a firearm were seized.
The cases were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sandra R. Hebert and Paul F. Daly, Jr. This massive cocaine bust was a major blow to the drug trafficking operation in Rhode Island.
The investigation and prosecution of this case was a collaborative effort between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, working together to take down a major drug trafficking operation in Rhode Island.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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