PROVIDENCE – In a stunning reversal of fortune for a notorious drug kingpin, William Mendez, 51, was sentenced today to fourteen years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale drug trafficking conspiracy. The sentence, announced by Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom, comes after Mendez’s guilty plea to charges related to the distribution of cocaine and fentanyl.
Mendez’s criminal career spans three decades, marked by multiple felony convictions and prison terms. His latest offense began just months after his release from state prison for drug trafficking. The judge, U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy, ordered Mendez to serve 168 months followed by five years of supervised release.
According to court records, Mendez led a conspiracy involving more than a dozen other individuals, including those with violent criminal histories. His organization distributed kilogram quantities of cocaine and substantial amounts of fentanyl throughout the state. In October 2024, Mendez admitted to distributing approximately 769.5 grams of fentanyl to a government agent.
Several associates of Mendez have also faced justice for their roles in the conspiracy. Ramon Barriera, 53, was sentenced to 70 months; Rafael Cruz, 75, received time served; Nelson Hazin, 57, was sentenced to time served; Ricardo Martinez, Jr., 37, was handed a 78-month sentence; Jonathan Masa-Gonzalez, 24, received 60 months; Juan Betancourt Sosa, 29, was sentenced to 70 months; Victor Yandel Aponte-Cirano, 25, got time served; and Keven Restrepo, 33, was sentenced to 77 months.
The investigation into the drug trafficking ring was a joint effort between the FBI Safe Street Task Force, DEA, and Providence Police Narcotics Bureau. The task force targeted all levels of drug dealing in several communities, ensuring that those involved in the conspiracy faced justice.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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