Richard Delsanto, Fentanyl Trafficking, Rhode Island 2021

West Warwick Man Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Trafficking Charges

A West Warwick man has pleaded guilty to fentanyl trafficking charges in federal court, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

Richard Delsanto, 28, pleaded guilty to distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.

According to charging documents, in April and May 2021, an undercover Newport Police Department detective assigned to the DEA Drug Task Force engaged in a series of text messages with Delsanto to arrange for the purchase of 1,000 counterfeit OxyContin pills known to contain fentanyl.

Delsanto delivered the pills on May 4, in exchange for $5,000. Nine days later, the undercover detective arranged for a second delivery of pills from Delsanto. As Delsanto arrived at an agreed-upon meeting location, members of the DEA Drug Task Force stopped Delsanto’s vehicle and seized approximately 3,000 pills containing fentanyl.

An additional 700 fentanyl pills were seized from Delsanto’s residence during a court-authorized search.

Delsanto is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2022.

The penalties for distributing 40 grams or more of fentanyl include up to 40 years in federal prison, with a mandatory minimum 5 years of imprisonment, and a term of federal supervised release of 4 years.

The penalties for possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl include up to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum term of 10 years of imprisonment, and a term of 5 years of federal supervised release.

The defendant’s sentence will be determined by a federal district judge after consideration of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Michael Seaman.

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