PROVIDENCE, RI – Brian Thompson, 45, of Warwick, Rhode Island, is facing a mountain of federal charges after a May bust uncovered a cache of drugs, cash, stolen firearms, and evidence of a sophisticated trafficking operation. Thompson’s arrest stemmed from an investigation by Newport and Warwick Police into the theft of two guns from a Newport home.
The break in the case came May 8th when Warwick Police pulled Thompson over. A search of his pickup truck allegedly revealed one of the stolen firearms stashed under the rear seat, along with 19 grams of crack cocaine and a hefty $4,436 in cash. Authorities also seized drug packaging materials, suggesting Thompson wasn’t just a user.
But the truck was just the beginning. A court-authorized raid of Thompson’s Warwick residence turned up a king’s ransom – $26,400 in cold, hard cash – alongside a substantial quantity of cocaine and marijuana. Investigators also found a stash of assorted pills, 64 gift cards, and jewelry, all indicators of a thriving, illegal enterprise.
Thompson, already a convicted felon with a prior conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon, was initially held on state charges. Now, a federal grand jury has upped the ante, indicting him on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. He’s currently in federal custody.
United States Attorney Aaron L. Weisman emphasized that an indictment is simply an accusation, and Thompson is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. However, the evidence paints a damning picture of a repeat offender deeply involved in the illegal drug trade and willing to possess stolen weapons.
Weisman’s office, alongside Newport Police Chief Gary T. Silva, Warwick Police Chief Colonel Rick J. Rathbun, and DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian D. Boyle, announced the indictment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ly T. Chin is prosecuting the case. Weisman also extended thanks to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Rhode Island DEA Drug Task Force for their crucial assistance in building the case against Thompson.
Related Federal Cases
- Thompson Sentenced for Smuggling Dozen Guns into RI · North Carolina
- Warwick Coke Dealer Miranda Faces Federal Time · Rhode Island
- Warwick Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges · Rhode Island
- Machine Gun Trafficker & Drug Ring Busted in Providence · Rhode Island
- Thompson Gets 8 Years for RI Gun Cache · North Carolina
Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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