PROVIDENCE, RI – A chilling arsenal of weaponry and a steady flow of heroin and fentanyl hit the streets of Providence, but a year-long joint operation by the ATF and Providence Police has finally shut down a dangerous network. Federal indictments have been handed down against four individuals, and a cache of illegal firearms – including a machine gun with an attached silencer – has been seized, along with approximately $21,000 in suspected drug money.
The investigation, launched in spring 2016, focused on the Chad Brown neighborhood and surrounding areas. Authorities utilized the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBN) to trace shell casings found at crime scenes. NIBN links firearms to multiple incidents, building a case to identify those responsible for arming criminals. This quickly expanded to pinpointing not only *who* was wielding the weapons, but *where* they originated.
Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch, ATF Resident Agent in Charge John H. Hayes, and Providence Police Chief Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr. revealed the scope of the bust today. In addition to the machine gun and silencer, investigators recovered a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol, a .22 caliber revolver, and a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol. Alongside the firearms were substantial quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine.
Edward Trinidad, 29, of Providence, faces the most serious charges. A federal grand jury indicted him on April 6, 2017, with six counts including possessing and transferring a firearm, possession of an unregistered machine gun, possession of an unregistered silencer, and distribution of 100 or more grams of fentanyl-laced heroin. The indictment alleges that Trinidad sold the machine gun, complete with a silencer, to an undercover ATF agent on June 3, 2016, and continued to supply heroin and fentanyl to the same agent through March 31, 2017.
Kevin Arroyo, also 29 and from Providence, is accused of operating as an unlicensed firearms dealer. Indicted on April 6, 2017, Arroyo faces three counts: engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license, possession of stolen firearms, and distribution of heroin. Undercover agents allegedly purchased a stolen .25 caliber semi-automatic pistol from Arroyo on May 26, 2016, a .22 caliber revolver and 14 grams of heroin on September 21, 2016, and a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol on April 5, 2017. He was ordered detained following his arraignment on April 10, 2017.
General Jones, 30, of Pawtucket, is facing an eleven-count indictment, also returned on April 6, 2017, charging him with five counts of distribution of cocaine, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of distribution of 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and one count each of possession with the intent to deliver 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and possession with the intent to distribute. The fourth defendant’s details were not immediately available at press time. All four are currently detained pending further court proceedings. This investigation underscores the persistent threat posed by illegal firearms and the devastating impact of the opioid crisis on Rhode Island communities.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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