PROVIDENCE – The grim headlines were all too real as William Mendez, a notorious figure in Rhode Island’s drug underworld, was handed a 14-year sentence for leading a massive drug trafficking operation. The 51-year-old criminal mastermind was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy.
Mendez, whose career as a drug trafficker began just three months after he finished serving time for previous offenses, admitted guilt to charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl. His actions involved distributing over 769.5 grams of the deadly substance fentanyl to a government agent.
The DOJ’s investigation, which targeted Mendez and over a dozen other individuals, revealed that many defendants had histories of violent crime offenses, including firearms charges, robbery, assault, and domestic violence. Court records showed that Mendez himself served 22 years in prison before he was released on state probation less than three months prior to his arrest.
Joining the FBI Safe Street Task Force, DEA, and Providence Police Narcotics Bureau, a joint investigation targeted drug dealing at all levels across several communities. Other key figures in Mendez’s operation faced sentences of their own: Ramon Barriera, 53, was sentenced to 70 months; Rafael Cruz, 75, received time served; Nelson Hazin, 57, got three years’ supervised release; Ricardo Martinez, Jr., 37, is serving 78 months followed by five years of supervision. Jonathan Masa-Gonzalez, 24, was sentenced to 60 months and four years of supervised release, while Juan Betancourt Sosa, 29, received 70 months and four years’ supervision.
Victor Yandel Aponte-Cirano, 25, avoided prison time for his role in the conspiracy but will be on supervised release for three years. Keven Restrepo, 33, faced 77 months in federal prison for his involvement with fentanyl distribution.
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Key Facts
- State: Rhode Island
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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