A Rhode Island man has been sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy that involved the kidnapping of a U.S. Postal Service employee.
Irving Medina, 36, of Providence, pleaded guilty on March 14, 2024, to a charge of conspiracy to possess 500 grams or more of cocaine with the intent to distribute.
Medina was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., to 70 months of incarceration to be followed by four years of federal supervised release.
According to information presented to the court, Medina and his co-conspirators abducted a USPS employee at gunpoint on June 1, 2021, in an effort to locate missing cocaine that had been shipped from Puerto Rico.
The victim was driven to his home, where he was interrogated about the missing cocaine. After it became clear that the victim knew nothing about the missing drugs, the kidnappers returned him to his postal truck.
Law enforcement seized three packages containing approximately one kilogram of cocaine each, as well as numerous items associated with drug trafficking from Medina’s residence, including $800 in cash, fifty bags filled with fentanyl, and three bags filled with cocaine base.
The matter was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, with the assistance of the Pawtucket Police, Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force, Rhode Island State Police K-9 Unit, Rhode Island High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, and the United States Marshals Service.
United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced the sentencing, which brings an end to a complex and disturbing case that involved the kidnapping of a innocent USPS employee.
Related Federal Cases
- Providence Man Sentenced to 70 Months for Cocaine Trafficking Conspiracy Involving USPS Kidnapping · Puerto Rico
- Luis Lopez Gets 15 Years for Cocaine, Fentanyl Empire · Massachusetts
- Cocaine Kingpin Jesus Martinez Sentenced to Decade in RI Prison · Puerto Rico
- Stoughton Drug Kingpin Gets Over 11 Years for Cocaine Smuggling and Relief Fraud · Massachusetts
- Identity Doc Supplier Pleads Guilty in ID Trafficking Scheme · Puerto Rico
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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